Something is draining my battery. Sometimes it only takes a few minutes and sometimes it (The Battery) has no charge overnight. I finally take the battery terminals off when I go somewhere so that nothing can drain it. that works fine. Help?
2006-12-02 17:14:16 · 7 answers · asked by Robert J 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Car Makes ➔ Lincoln
You obviously have some type of electrical draw somewhere. As with most high end vehicles with multiple electrical accessories and options, there are too many possibilites to list here. The only thing I can say is, take it to a tech WHO SPECIALIZES IN ELECTRICAL AND DRIVEABILITY concerns, to locate and repair the source of the draw. If it was the alternator not charging, you would require a boost to start every time, but as soon as the booster cables are removed, the engine would "die".
2006-12-02 17:31:19 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This can be very difficult to find. Sometimes it is just as simple as a door jam switch not working for some reason(like a busted or missing door panel). It can also be a bad diode in the alternator. It could be a relay that has fused itself. I could be so many many things.
You should NEVER use a test light on a computerized vehicle. You need to use a digital multi-meter with high impedence. The current draw from a test light can damage computer parts not designed to handle the amps.
The best way to diagnose this is with the multi-meter in the amp setting(10amp) and hopefully you know how to do this. It is a good idea to add an additional fuse on the leads to protect your meter as most meters do not fuse the 10 amp part and it can destroy your meter.
Then you unplug stuff(fuses.. etc) until the current goes WAY down.
Hopefully from what I have said you can figure things out. I don't have the time to go into too much detail.
2006-12-02 18:31:10 · answer #2 · answered by adventurouscouchpotatofun 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Alternators don't drain battery when the car is off unless its has a dead short.(highly unlikely). Now go buy a test light at the auto parts store ($5). Pull the neg. cable off and hook the test light between the cable clamp and the battery post. If there is a draw on the battery then the light will be on. Start pulling fuses out and put back before pulling the next one to see if the light goes out. If it goes out read what the fuse belongs to and your search is narrowed.Be sure to pull fuses that relate to anything working at the time like clock, radio, hood light, interior light.
2006-12-02 17:45:19 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
i am a ase certified mechanic here are the basic steps to diagnosing electrical problems. 1 use a volt meter and with the engine running you should see 13.7 volts (or so) if not replace the alternator.2use a test light and with the car off test all the fuses to see witch circuit has power. some will even with the car off and that's normal. use commen sense to figure if it should or not. IE. cigarette lighter, dome light,etc if you see power on a ecm fuse or fuel pump fuse or circuits like that your problem lyes there.after you have narrowed it down to that point look at the wires in that circuit for wires melted rubbing together etc. repair and enjoy
2006-12-02 17:44:22 · answer #4 · answered by dmand1174 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
either your battery is crap,or not charging well,or you have a electrical leak some were ,as the lincoln is full of electrical motors .ect...time to break out the electrical tester
2006-12-02 17:22:12 · answer #5 · answered by goat 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
change your alternator
2006-12-02 17:17:49 · answer #6 · answered by tony h 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
THE ALTANATOR IS BAD , IT MAY NEED REBUILT OR REPLACED
2006-12-02 17:17:57 · answer #7 · answered by MR.B 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋