Do I replace my alternator?

Question

With the engine OFF the alternator draws 250ma. After 2-3 days of inactivity the battery is dead. Simply put, does my alternator
have a disruptive side job?

Answer 1

Change your alternator. That's what is draining your battery. Its easy and inexpensive to do it yourself. The hardest part to do is when you have to put on the new belt on it. Go to AutoZone, Checker, etc and see if they have an do-it-yourself instruction manual you can purchase, they're usually like $16-18.

Answer 2

How old is your vehicle? It could be a electrical draw from a phone cord that is left plugged in, or a light that stays on, or any number of electronic systems in the vehicle that is draining the battery. The alternators job is to charge the battery when the car is running. If the car is not running there is a draw somewhere else. You could try a new alternator, but you may run into the same problem.

Answer 3

Typically, if the alternator is to blame the drain is rapid enough to make the alternator hot to the touch. It sounds like a parasiitic draw but might be other than the alternator.

If you can identify the circuit that is the beginning of the "where" search.

Answer 4

I'd replace the battery first, bud. The alternator doesn't charge unless the car is running. Sounds like yer battery wont hold charge.

Answer 5

That's quite a mystery. Your wife might have installed a GPS tracking device or tape recorder in the trunk to spy on you and it is drawing power. Also, someone may have performed a Youngstown tuneup and installed a timebomb somewhere, and the bomb's clock is using power. Just some things to check. Hope this helps!!!!!

Answer 6

there is a resistor that feed,s your field winding,s.....without this your alternator could not charge.....this resistor is fed through your ignition.......what I would do if I were you....install a diode in your field charge wire.....you see after your field is charged it will produce a feed back charge....this won,t affect anything while your driving...but will discharge while off.....a diode will prevent this....be sure the orientation is correct....a diode is simply a one way electrical valve...allowing a charge in but not out...preventing back drain.....if you just replace your alternator....you may end up with the same problem....the original resistor is difficult to locate.

Answer 7

thats to much of a draw sounds like something is on , make be interio light, drunk lights , glove box

Answer 8

Sounds more like something is on, Dome light, truck light, stereo? etc

Answer 9

You might have burned a rectifier.