alternator and Battery?

Question

ok the car is turning over, but its draining my battery, the alternator was brand new and the battery was brand new too. the way its draining my battery it's going to kill the battery quickly, I had to take the cable wire off the battery to save the battery

Answer 1

If your battery is being drained just by sitting there, then you have a short circuit through something (probably the alternator diode bridge). Disconnect the battery wire going to the alternator (this is the big wire). Leave it disconnected and see if the battery has any drain by touching the battery cable (checking for any spark of current flow). This will usually find the problem. Have the alternator tested, and it will show that the bridge is bleeding current - replace the alternator. If the current bleed is coming from somewhere else, you will have to find what it is by isolating different circuits. I have had battery cables short out to the frame of the car. I had a wiring harness go bad on me one time. Good luck in your search.

Answer 2

You could have a short in your wiring system, or something in your car isn't turning off ( example: Vanity Mirror, Door Jam Switch broke in the on position). This is a barret drain.A way to test for this is easy. Either get a circuit tester, or as simple as a 12v bulb with 2 wires coming off it that would connect to a battery.
Make sure the key is off and doors are closed. If you have an underhood light, take the bulb out during this test.Dissconect the negative battery cable from the battery. Take the circuit tester, put one end on the battery's negative side and the other end on the negative battery cable terminal ( this completes the circuit again). If your using the 12v bulb with the wires, do the same as the circuit tester. If the tester or bulb light shines, you have a battery drain. This can take time to find. Typical wire problems are around the taillight and headlight housings, parklight and markerlight housings. If you put a radio or sound system in your car, that could be the problem.

Answer 3

How do you seem to know it is draining your battery?

Test the alternator by ensuring that the car is well warmed up, turn off all electrical items, listen carefully to the engine speed while you turn on the headlights with the High beams on, as the alternator gives the engine a slight strain so the engine should slow down, slightly, turn them back off and it should speed back up slightly.

If after that you still think that the battery is still draining you need to find out what is taking the charge out of it.

Got a short circuit?

P.S. Make sure your battey connections are tight and clean.

Answer 4

it could be 1 of 2 things 1st check your battery cable you have a short thats draining your battery 2nd make sure the alternator is good just because its new doesn't mean it works check the output using a loadtester

Answer 5

Are you saying the battery is being drained while you drive, or, when the car is sitting there?

If it's while you are driving, it's the alternator. Bad replacements happen! Get it tested out.

If it's while the car sits when you park it, you have to find the accessory that's draining it. Isn't easy to hunt for, but if you pull fuses you might be able to isolate the issue.

Answer 6

When you hook the cable up it is going to spark a little due to hood light & things of that nature. When you hook the cable to the battery does the starter spin. Is the cable getting hot. During your installation did you leave an exosed wired against metal?

Answer 7

mor5e than likely the problem is within the cable that are hooked up to your battery the need to be sliced and reset on the little round thing and hooked up to the battery..i'm a female but i hung aroud my ex husband while he worked ou plenty of cars back in the day..

Answer 8

You may have gotten a bad alternator even though it is new. I would take the alternator in to be tested.