Lingering issue
Thread Starter
Go Canes!
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,975
Likes: 329
From: Boca Raton FL
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20-'21
Lingering issue
I have been having a dead battery syndrome for a long time now. The only additions to my electrical system are my Escort 9500 and my GM PAL. Now granted, when I get out of the car, I ALWAYS forget to turn off the radar detector (and it is still plugged into the lighter). If I leave it for more than 2 days, the car is dead!!!
I have engine mods, but I cant imagine they would affect the electrical system. I am thinking alternator, but any input would be appreciated. It gets annoying going to start my car and it is always dead. I have been through 3 batteries in 2 years already, and it never seemed to happen before the mods.
I have engine mods, but I cant imagine they would affect the electrical system. I am thinking alternator, but any input would be appreciated. It gets annoying going to start my car and it is always dead. I have been through 3 batteries in 2 years already, and it never seemed to happen before the mods.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 515
Likes: 1
From: South of I-64 Illinois
Sometimes all it takes is one or two good drainings to kill a battery. I speak from experience.
Ask me how I know: Two instances of leaving the car undriven for a few weeks/forgetting to hook up the battery tender = trashed battery.
Ask me how I know: Two instances of leaving the car undriven for a few weeks/forgetting to hook up the battery tender = trashed battery.
Thread Starter
Go Canes!
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,975
Likes: 329
From: Boca Raton FL
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20-'21
This I know. I want to know what's draining it???
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6,490
Likes: 716
From: Sausalito CA
Start w/ the basics....
Test battery - # 1 cause.
Test alternator output - your best guess
Leave radar detector out of the car - for a week while testing.
Disconnect your I-phone or other from your PAL - for a week while testing.
Then start testing systems/ wires for your draw.
From what you write something is remaining "live".
No answer here will tell you the issue, especially with mods (someone worked on the car); you have to do the testing.
Test battery - # 1 cause.
Test alternator output - your best guess
Leave radar detector out of the car - for a week while testing.
Disconnect your I-phone or other from your PAL - for a week while testing.
Then start testing systems/ wires for your draw.
From what you write something is remaining "live".
No answer here will tell you the issue, especially with mods (someone worked on the car); you have to do the testing.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 515
Likes: 1
From: South of I-64 Illinois
My assumption is it's the radar detector and/or PAL, which you stated in the original post. I think you answered the question with your description of the issue.
I wasn't trying to state the obvious, just assumed one or two times leaving the electronics on weakened the battery beyond it's ability to recover.
Remove the radar detector for a week or two.
I wasn't trying to state the obvious, just assumed one or two times leaving the electronics on weakened the battery beyond it's ability to recover.
Remove the radar detector for a week or two.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,223
Likes: 14
From: Lower Macungie Township ; Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
As far as my vette goes; I had 2 batteries go dead on me. Seems like once they're dead they won't hold a recharge. The dealer put a 3rd battery in and did a re-flash of the computer and it's been good for the last 3 years.
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Drifting
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,394
Likes: 19
From: Levittown NY
Is your PAL turning off when you shut the car off. Last year when I received my PAL it would not shut off when car was turned off and I had a slow crank within a day. Subsequent firmware updates corrected that. Why arent you using the quick connect that goes to your mirror for the radar detector?
How old is the battery?
How old is the battery?
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,394
Likes: 19
From: Levittown NY
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 21,502
Likes: 461
From: Southern Utah
Both the PAL and the radar detector should be wired to switched power...for me, it would be a huge pain to have the detector powered all the time. I don't want it going off in the garage when a LEO drives by with his radar on. This is certainly enough power drain to kill the battery in a few days.
Thread Starter
Go Canes!
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,975
Likes: 329
From: Boca Raton FL
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20-'21
Thread Starter
Go Canes!
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,975
Likes: 329
From: Boca Raton FL
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20-'21
