1996 Ford Taurus Battery problem?

Question

I have a 1996 Ford Taurus. 3 yr old battery seemed like it was dying. I put a new battery in last week. Within 2 days the car would hardly crank and start the car. I got the car started, drove home. I put it on a charger. It worked ok for 2 days then it was dead. I charged it again. the car worked well for 2 days-then it died again. I did a fast charge drove it the mechanic. He had it for 2 days and now the bloody thing is working fine. Battery is holding a charge. There are no light on in glove box, trunk or other possible sources of battery draining. He tested the battery and the charging system--all is fine. For now. I just know the battery will be dead in 2 days.
I have read it could be a fan relay that is stuck. I have not heard the fan run. Is this a prblem with the Taurus?

Thank You
Masdawg1981

Answer 1

I have heard of the CCRM relay sticking before. I have never come across this my self personally though. The way to verify this as the source of the problem is to tap the relay if you hear the fan stay running when you shut the car off. If it shuts off, you need a new CCRM.

Answer 2

No thats not a common problem. It sounds like theres a electrical problem, I would have another shop look into it. The only reason that the battery would die within a few days is because it is either a faulty battery, charging system problems, starter relay stuck(VERY RARE) or bad cables grounded out somewhere, in which can cause the battery to get drained. How's the ignition (KEY) ? Does it ever stay on after you have removed the key? This is a known problem for ALL older cars. It is possible a relay is staying on but thats the fun part, which one? This is most likely going to be a check and evaluate everything case. Good luck

Answer 3

Tell him to drive it then check for a draw... apparently the draw may be intermittant.. have had a few of those that will bring down a car...

You haven't stated how long between starts over those two days, also check for bad battery terminals as they are famous for causing problems.

If your mechanic has had it for two days, ask him how he is checking for a load draw... Using a test light like like Dodge man said is bad now (could possibly fry a computer and Ford does not recognize that as a valid test anymore).... need a knife switch going between the negative terminal and the negative battery cable with a amp meter in between so when you open the knife switch you can see the actual amps your car is using.. after one hour (it takes about 45 minutes for all modules to "go to sleep" this is normal draw and another reason why the test light doesn't work anymore as it shows a draw that actually is there for a reason) max draw should be .050amps... anything above that, you need to fix... most of the time it's either a radio or amplifier that kills the battery I've been finding on them.

Answer 4

Your mechanic may have checked and tightened connections like the ground strap and battery cables when he worked on it. A slightly loose negative battery cable or ground strap will allow the battery to send "juice" to the starter under some conditions, but may not support the amps sent TO the battery by the alternator, thereby letting the battery run down as its own energy is depleted and not replaced.

You've apparently checked the obvious (lights, etc.), so the only thing left are oddball problems like internal alternator problems or hidden grounds (burned wires, etc.). You're right, you'd hear the fan. I've not heard of that particular problem on Taurus.

Uh, you don't have a "gigando" cranking stereo system, do you? Consider bigger alternators, if so...

Answer 5

I have 1996 Taurus car. I think that the air condition of turn on the heat and air condition knob is verily have been worn out and it should be replaced. I have check the all relays in fuse box and they are okay.
Your battery is faulty and should be buy new since it has been over charge way too much and ballist resistor should be replace and perhaps capacitor condenser should be place between the negative and positive terminals of alternator that way it will not overcharge too high when charging your battery.
My car has brand new horn but wouldn't honk yet. I will find the fusible link wire between my batt and my alternator and will replace the wire. I am ASE mechanic for gasoline engine car.

Answer 6

1996 Taurus

Answer 7

i own a repair shop,and its possibility it could be a relay ,but it will usually turn the fan on ,and cause this you might try doing a draw test on it to see if there's anything on you cant see a draw test will show it,all you do is remove the negative cable,and take a 12 volt test light and hook one end of it to the negative cable you removed,and the other end up to the negative post on the battery ,if the light comes on when you do this ,it has a draw on it,if not ,you can test to see if the light is working right ,just open a door on the car,the test light will light up,close the door,and start checking things if the light is on continuously there will be something like a relay stuck somewhere on it.this is the method used by gm ,i went to school at gm tech in Michigan,good luck,i hope this help,s.

Answer 8

it sounds like there is a very small current draw somewhere in your car. this sucks, because a lot of the times, they are very hard to find.

Have you installed/had installed any electronics in your car (this is where I would start) This would include ANYTHING that uses electricity (radio, amp, radar detector, custom lights, etc.)
if not, then it sounds like something in your vehicles electrical system is continuing to stay powered on when you turn off the vehicle.
What I would do next is just sit in the car after you turn it off (hope it isn't too cold where you are) and just test to see if there are any things I could turn on that I shouldn't be able to (like the radio for example)

good luck

Answer 9

Are the terminals clean from white corrossion? As this will keep a battery from getting the charge through to the starter. After cleaning the cable connections put some white grease on the terminals to cut down on the corrsion build up

Answer 10

Probably bad rectifier bridge in the alternator. That will drain a battery. Especially a rebuilt Autozone p.o.s. Have the alternator tested. I recommend only new O.E.M. electrical parts. Cost more, but you get what you pay for. Good luck.