a friend of mine has this problem with he's car battery,it is okay once he gets it going with a bump start but when he turns of the engine and leaves it overnight the battery has lost it's charge he has checked for a parastic draw which there doesn't seem to be he has also had the alternator checked which was okay.any other ideas anyone.
2007-10-25 06:52:43 · 12 answers · asked by amanda m 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
i forgot to mention it is a brand new battery,if he takes the terminals off overnight and reconnects in the morning the car is fine and starts first time.
2007-10-25 08:28:38 · update #1
your parasitic test was flawed, sorry.
there are vast number of drains.
you need an amp meter.
A $2.88 Harbor Freight meter (dmm) has a 10amp scale that works perfect.
set it up for amps and move RED lead to amp jack.
now place the meter on amps scale, and put the meter leads in series with the NEG, matter terminal.
normal drain is 20ma or less. (never place the ampmeter across a power source, like the battery or it will blow up)
but do this first.
(examine car in the dark garage with lights all off) l
look for lamp stuck on somewhere.
hood lamp, trunk lamp, gov box, ash tray, dome lamp.
if these prove ok, use the amp meter to find it.
if you see lets say 250 ma of current, 0.25 amps.
then start pulling fuses, (all one by one) to isolate this false load.
one time we had an alternator leaking , even though it charged perfectly ( that was the last thing we disconnected)
they can be ease or hard, but the meter is the only way.
good luck to you.
2007-10-25 18:35:15 · answer #1 · answered by gearhead 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are two possibilities: 1.) The battery has started to short internally, which means it is time to get a new battery. or 2.) There is a small ground in the positive side of the wiring system, which slowly drains the battery when the alternator is off. The way to test for the latter is to dosconnect the positive cable from the battery, and, using a multimeter set to check resistance, check between the positive cable and the frame of the car. If there is a ground (Usually a worn spot in some wire's insulation) you will know immediately. If that is the case, then you will obviously have to trace down the spot that is grounded, good luck. The interim remedy is to disconnect the battery every time the car is stopped. If there is no ground detected, then it is the battery, go get a new one.
2007-10-25 07:05:18 · answer #2 · answered by Stephen H 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
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RE:
why is car battery losing charge?
a friend of mine has this problem with he's car battery,it is okay once he gets it going with a bump start but when he turns of the engine and leaves it overnight the battery has lost it's charge he has checked for a parastic draw which there doesn't seem to be he has also had the...
2015-08-18 14:35:15 · answer #3 · answered by Trumaine 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do you have any extra devices plugged in to the cigarette lighter? Do you run the radio while the engine is not on? Do you have a bad fuse somewhere creating a short or intermittent fault? Is the battery original to the car? Have you tried getting a second opinion from somewhere like Auto Zone? I would check those things first. If none of the above applies, I would have another garage look at the issue.
2016-03-18 03:32:05 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
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Could very well be a defective battery. I had the same problem a few years ago on a almost new truck. Dealer replaced the battery on warranty. Even new cars can have a defective part on occasion.
2016-04-05 03:56:21 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It could be an old or defective battery that is no longer able to hold a charge, or there could be a short somewhere in the electrical system that is slowly drawing off current.
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2007-10-25 07:04:03 · answer #6 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Probably a weak cell. Have the battery checked. Also the alternator could be charging at idle but not at 2,000 rpm, which is normal driving range
2007-10-25 06:59:20 · answer #7 · answered by yankee jeff 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He needs a new battery..When he jump starts it, have him turn on the headlights and see if they start to dim.. and if it does its either battery or alternator but you said that was OK....check the cables make sure there is no corrosion on it..
2007-10-25 06:58:48 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
the battery wont hold a charge. it is probably leaking. its old, get a new one.
2007-10-25 06:57:59 · answer #9 · answered by DannyB 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
question? so take the volt/amp meter deal and connect to fuse box 1 by 1 to i.d where electricity is still flowing?
2014-09-22 06:12:20 · answer #10 · answered by ? 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋