curious battery/electrical problem
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 304
Likes: 0
From: sometown new york
curious battery/electrical problem
I've been through 2 batteries in 3 years, something is amiss. Both batteries (1 conventional and 1 no maintainence) had fluid coming out of the overflow openings. The 2nd (no maintainence) battery is a 5 year and it's to the point where it wont hold a charge for more than 40-48 hours. It's only 1.5 years old. The same thing happened on the first battery. Another symptom is dimming headlights anytime another high amp system comes on (fan, brake lights, blower, etc).
The voltmeter reads from 13.8 to 14.2 volts. When the battery is real low (car barely starts), the voltmeter will read 14.5 for a short time.
So, what's killing my batteries?
The voltmeter reads from 13.8 to 14.2 volts. When the battery is real low (car barely starts), the voltmeter will read 14.5 for a short time.
So, what's killing my batteries?
Intermediate
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: Houston TX
I'm no expert but I will try to help anyway.
It sounds like your first battery died of old age. The second battery could be bad already. I believe your charging system is working correctly, but is cooking (overcharging) the weak battery. Hence the overflow.
You could have a parasitic electrical drain on the battery. Check this with an amp meter and remove the fuses till the amp meter drops to near zero. If you do not want to do this, just remove (or disconnect) the battery for a few days. Then check the voltage of the battery. If less than about 12.4v the battery is bad. If over 12.4 it is probably good but something in the car is draining it.
Hope this helps.
It sounds like your first battery died of old age. The second battery could be bad already. I believe your charging system is working correctly, but is cooking (overcharging) the weak battery. Hence the overflow.
You could have a parasitic electrical drain on the battery. Check this with an amp meter and remove the fuses till the amp meter drops to near zero. If you do not want to do this, just remove (or disconnect) the battery for a few days. Then check the voltage of the battery. If less than about 12.4v the battery is bad. If over 12.4 it is probably good but something in the car is draining it.
Hope this helps.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 304
Likes: 0
From: sometown new york
I put the first battery in when I bought the car because the one in the car cracked. The first battery lasted about 1.5 years. I've been through the amp meter test and I get between 0.04 and 0.08 miliamps.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
An alternator can output 12 VDC - 14.5.VDC and still be bad. Have a an automotive electrical shop who specializes in Starter/Alternator repair do a COMPLETE electrical system test. Your alternator could be outputing AC voltage or ripple on the DC line due to bad diodes. It could also be out puting too much of not enough current!
The current drain test that you performed sounds like everything is right where it is suppose to be!
That is what i recommend.
Bill Curlee
The current drain test that you performed sounds like everything is right where it is suppose to be!
That is what i recommend.
Bill Curlee
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
I wouldnt do that until you can prove the alternator good or bad. There have ben a few forum members who have purchased an alternator only to find out thet the GM part# for the original alternator is no longer available and the one that replaces it only made things WORSE!! If you have an automatic there are SPECIAL alternators for some years! 
I recommend having it tested and if it is having issues, have the shop repair ypurs.
Bill
I recommend having it tested and if it is having issues, have the shop repair ypurs.
Bill
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 304
Likes: 0
From: sometown new york
Well, I don't have many options. There are no decent alt rebuilding shops in New Orleans and sending somewhere is not an option (no car to use while I wait for the alt to come back). My car is manual, so I don't have the special alt issue. Eventually, this alt is going to fry something important.
