what kills my car battery?

Question

i have a car peugeot 406 96 model. every day when i leave it off for more than twelve hrs i will find the battery is flat, but when i drive it for few mins and try again the battery will be fully charged. the battery is new so what on earth do you guys think is the problem? please i need ur advise

Answer 1

A battery goes dead for only two reasons.Something is draining power from it or it's got something wrong internally. If you can't determine if the car is eating power somewhere or if it's alternatively a battery problem, do this simple test to check to see if you have a 'parasite':

Get yourself a normal 12-volt test light. They cost about three bucks at most auto places. Then after switching off all lights and electrics in the car (and shutting the driver's door, don't forget :)) disconnect your negative lead from the battery and lay it off so it's not touching any bodywork or anything metal. Now touch the test light probe on the neg. battery terminal and the probe wire on the disconnected lead. If the test light comes on, you've got a parasitic short or something else is staying on -- like a light in the trunk (boot in UK) or something like that. This means your battery is probably okay and you have to track down your 'parasite'.

If the light doesn't come on, then nothing of any significance is draining the battery and the problem is therefore very very likely in the battery itself.

I suspect something's parasiting or it's the ol' boot light problem.

Hope this helps. It's the definitive way to check if your battery is losing charge to something external.

Answer 2

Sounds like an interior light staying on, boot or similar.
Look round for lights on after dark, with a reliable mate to let you out, climb in the boot, close it completely, the light sometimes comes back on when the lid is tight down, check for a glow from the glove box, etc
If you cannot find anything then put an ammeter between the battery negative terminal and the negative lead, you really need to connect a slave battery through the Cigarette lighter socket to stop the radio from de coding while you connect the ammeter, you could put the ammeter between slave and cigarette lighter socket if you prefer, check for discharge and try the alternator the rectifier diodes sometimes fail and allow back feeding but it charges fine so this is unlikely. It is odd how quick a 5 watt bulb will flatten a healthy battery, you woukld think it would take weeks but leave the bootlight on overnight and it goes flat.

Answer 3

Ok 1st off jst cause a battery is new doesnt mean it is fully charged. secondly if your doing short runs then this is gonna drain ya battery so a fully charge with a charger will be worth while. from waht you say they alternator is fine. remember when you been driving 4 a few mins the engine is also warm so the battery needs less charge to start the car. hope this helps

Answer 4

Sounds like the alternator is charging ok so something is draining the battery - that lights a good thing to check - a switch could be broken and not turning the lights off when a door is shut ... or anything electrical that uses power - the alarm's another possibility.

Answer 5

Ya battery wont fully charge in a few Min's, Most likely a bad or lose connection on your starter motor, now that the weather is getting colder/damper it will be a bad connection when the engine is cold but will seem OK when its warmed up a bit and dried out.

Answer 6

The aspects of the charging equipment in a vehicle are: - Alternator - Voltage Regulator - Battery Now, there is in all danger a quick between the GPS equipment and the physique, or in all danger the GPS equipment replaced into put in improperly. alongside with a putting twine, or a twine that rubs onto steel (and the sheath around the twine would be wiped out). perchance you will desire to show which variety you have it may help out.

Answer 7

There is probably something draining the battery. Have you checked that there is not something left on , it could even be the alarm or maybe a bonnet or boot lamp. You could put an ammeter in line to check.

Answer 8

all it could be is a bad earth on your car battery make sure there is a good conection on your battery if not that chack your conections on your starter if not try another battery and see what happens after a couple of days as it just may be a foult in your battery hope this may help

Answer 9

You have a draw from somewhere. Check to see if any lights are left on, radio. Check the alternator, maybe the battery is defective.

Answer 10

check the trunk or other places in the car to see if theres a light is staying on.sounds like something is live all the time and draining your battery.