i have a 94 silouette, i replaced the battery in the van the other day, got up the next day and it was dead. Im guessing that there is a short somewhere, but it never acted any different before i replaced the battery, all connections to the battery are good. Just need to know where to start looking for the short. Any peticular place?
2007-03-28 17:00:26 · 11 answers · asked by dave51_1998 4 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
First, get your new battery recharged. Then install the battery and hook up the cables and check to make sure that no dome or cargo lights were left on by mistake. Even a door that isn't closed completely can cause a light to stay on. A small bulb left on overnight will do a pretty good job of draining a battery.
Another possibility is that your new battery is bad. I have seen that happen before.
If you don't find any dome lights on or any obvious things like that here is my way to find a short. Get an inexpensive 12 volt test light at the parts store. Disconnect the postive battery cable and put the test light between the battery and the battery cable. (Jab the sharp end of the test light into the battery post and connect the alligator clip to the battery cable itself) If the test light comes on then there is a draw in your system...but beware, sometimes a vehicle will have a hood light that comes on with the hood up and you may have to unplug that to get a good test. A dimly light bulb usually just indicates a clock radio draw where a bright bulb means a good short. Then you have to start pulling fuses and see which fuse makes the test light goes out to get a closer idea of where you have a short.
2007-03-28 17:15:31 · answer #1 · answered by lwjksu89 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good Googly Moogly, It's in the wiring
You can have the charging system checked first of all, then after that disconnect the positive terminal and place a test light from the battery terminal and the disconnected cable.
if it lights you are right you have a short. pull fuses until the light goes out. this is the circuit get a wiring diagram and start the search. I do not envy you. I spent 7 days under a Jag and I still didn't find it. I put a switch in the drivers area that threw a 12 volt relay that disconnected the battery.
If you take it to a shop they may have a secret or two. a Pontiac dealer can be expensive as if it takes 4 days at 50 bucks an hour that is the cost,
2007-03-29 00:07:08 · answer #2 · answered by Uncle Red 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The battery may be new and all that, but there is a reason why the battery discharged. Simply replacing a battery does not mean the new battery had a full charge. Batteries sitting on a shelf "self-discharge" over time. So, maybe it had just enough to run things after you installed it, but you took out enough to make it incapable the following day. Maybe it simply needs a decent charge. Next, terminal corrosion. If the terminal connections are not cleaned to assure good metal on metal contact, then there is a resistence and it may be enough to make it appear the battery is dead. Next, something may be actually drawing power wile not apparently doing so, like your wipers. I had a problem recently, in which my battery went dead overnight, and it turn out to be the wipers not opening the circuit after I used them intermittently the previous night. The wiper motor was still energized because the switch at the end of stroke at the "park" position was fouled by pine needles and prevented the blades from getting down far enough to open the circuit when the blades were in the park position. The blades stopped because I turned off the engine, but the motor was still trying to get the blades into the park position, so it still was drawing amps trying to get the blades down far enough to open the switch. Since the switch never opened, it drew power all night and drained the battery. Maybe something like this happened to you.
2007-03-29 00:50:46 · answer #3 · answered by rowlfe 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have you had the alternator checked? See what the amp draw is with a charged battery and everything off. If it more than milliamps you very well could have a short, like a shorted alternator!
2007-03-29 00:08:45 · answer #4 · answered by know da stuff 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some auto parts stores will test the battery and alternator for free. I had a similar problem and it ended up being a bad voltage regulator.
2007-03-29 00:08:55 · answer #5 · answered by QandA 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Look at things like auxiliary equipment (add-on stereo, AMP, aftermarket security system etc.
Check also the glove-box light, under-hood light, courtesy lights etc.
If that doesn't help you locate it, start pulling fuses, one-at-a-time with a test light connected between the battery and one of the cables. When the light goes out, what ever that fuse protects is the circuit that is at fault.
2007-03-29 00:06:52 · answer #6 · answered by Ironhand 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
check the water in the battery. Then start it and unhook the negative wire while it is running if it dies then your altenator is bad. check also to see if you have any lights like cargo lights that are not shut off.
2007-03-29 00:05:55 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
check the wire connections going from the battery to the starter and then wires that go to alternator also check frame ground wire, make sure they are all getting good bonding then put a dab of grease on everyone of them to prevent corroding.
2007-03-29 00:10:07 · answer #8 · answered by yp_floyd_isle 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Try to get your alternator tested(it's free),if your alternator is on the fritz,it affects your battery too.
2007-03-29 00:03:38 · answer #9 · answered by theterrorofdeath 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the only thign coming to my mind is the alternator(bad)
2007-03-29 00:04:08 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋