when I drive my 96 ford contour, every so often the battery light will come on for a few seconds and then turn off. The alternator is the original and has been checked but is not the problem so they say. There is also a small drain in my battery that will completely drain it in 3 days. Are these two related? Could it be a short in a wire somewhere?
2007-01-12 02:45:48 · 6 answers · asked by mindymoons 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
the battery is new and will only die in 3 days if i don't start it for 3 days
2007-01-12 02:48:18 · update #1
If the battery drains after 3 days the problem is either in the battery or you have a parasitic load in the electrical system. Take the car to a tech that can see what circuit has the fault. if you don't have a tech you trust search one at www.iatn.net
2007-01-12 03:12:13 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like a short in the system. Since you stated if you don't start it the battery will be dead in 3 days then something is drawing down the battery. If anything has been added recently such as radio, lights, anything else that has to have a battery connection, check that first.
After that, I would take the car to a mechcanic to find out where the short is coming from. Be warned, finding shorts in the electrical system can sometimes be a real pain.
2007-01-12 03:12:00 · answer #2 · answered by chefantwon 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Check battery terminals, cables and if the water levels in the battery are good.
Also - is there something hooked up that doesn't turn off when the car is off? My son had XM radio in his truck, it was installed to always be on. It wasn't a problem until he started leaving the truck parked during the week. Then it started draining the battery. Could it be something similar?
2007-01-12 02:56:20 · answer #3 · answered by PRS 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is almost always a connection between batt.and alt.Like
weak batt.can freeze.You stated there is intermittent light while driving.Here is check you can do,let car idle,turn on lights,radio heter blower,see what happens,I will ask are you sure batt and ground cables clean and tight?If you have 6 dollar hydrometer and batt has caps check gravity.This alt is 10 years old,How about batt?A defective batt.can have weak cell wont hold charge.
2007-01-12 04:51:24 · answer #4 · answered by section hand 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like it could be your alternator, I don't care what the shop say.
2007-01-12 03:50:06 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
check battery termanals and clean them
2007-01-12 02:48:28 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋