Help!!! Dead battery?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Jacksonville FL
Help!!! Dead battery?
I had no problem opening the trunk and unlocking the doors this morning, but then everthing went dead before I could turn the key all the way over to ignition. WTF?
The Optima red-top battery is less than a year old. I had no problems yesterday or during a road trip this past weekend.
It's not as if I left the lights on or anything like that last night. I don't have anything plugged into the cig. lighter.
How did I drain the battery (if that's the problem)? Will a jump-start be a sufficient long-term solution?
My daily driver died last week, so this is a good excuse to take a day-off from work. ;)
The Optima red-top battery is less than a year old. I had no problems yesterday or during a road trip this past weekend.
It's not as if I left the lights on or anything like that last night. I don't have anything plugged into the cig. lighter.
How did I drain the battery (if that's the problem)? Will a jump-start be a sufficient long-term solution?
My daily driver died last week, so this is a good excuse to take a day-off from work. ;)
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,665
Likes: 847
From: New Jersey
Re: Help!!! Dead battery? (superdave)
You need to do a "Key-Off" current draw test, with a milliameter. It should be less than 100mA after when the car is in "sleep Mode" (key off, and out of lock cylinder, doors closed, takes about 15 min to go into sleep) I have heard of some defective CD changers which draw too much current when they are supposed to be off. Try unplugging that.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 4,990
Likes: 500
From: Hilton NY
Re: Help!!! Dead battery? (superdave)
In series with a battery cable; remove either + or - and place one lead on the battery and the other on the cable, never across the battery. After a minute the reading should be about 20 ma. Make shure to remove the underhood bulb first.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,248
Likes: 1
From: Newland US
Re: Help!!! Dead battery? ()
superdave,
You may want to check the battery post connections for cleanliness and tightness. Also place a volt meter across the battery post with the engine running to make sure the alternator is charging; should read around 14 volts.
Compare the reading that you get with the DIC reading.
Place the voltmeter across the battery posts with the engine not running. A fully charged battery should read around 12.65 volts. If the alternator is charging and the battery is low....take Al's advice.
Good luck.
Mark
You may want to check the battery post connections for cleanliness and tightness. Also place a volt meter across the battery post with the engine running to make sure the alternator is charging; should read around 14 volts.
Compare the reading that you get with the DIC reading.
Place the voltmeter across the battery posts with the engine not running. A fully charged battery should read around 12.65 volts. If the alternator is charging and the battery is low....take Al's advice.
Good luck.
Mark
