Re: Draining battery problems! (PinoyG60)
Hows your starter?
Hows your starter?
Draining battery problems!
Has anyone had problems with their battery being drained? Checked everything else on the car and I could come up with the last 2 reasons why I have to disco. the battery terminal before I go to bed so I can start it the next day!!
It seemed to start after I replaced my factory stereo unit with an alpine that has amplified wattage (45X4). Alternator seems ok at 14 volts. My alrm system is a derringer2 (VSE) about 9yrs old. Should I start from the battery and work my way to the head unit? ANyone have these problems berfore? Advice will be much appreciated! thanks!
It seemed to start after I replaced my factory stereo unit with an alpine that has amplified wattage (45X4). Alternator seems ok at 14 volts. My alrm system is a derringer2 (VSE) about 9yrs old. Should I start from the battery and work my way to the head unit? ANyone have these problems berfore? Advice will be much appreciated! thanks!
1 - 12 of 12 Posts
Re: Draining battery problems! (PinoyG60)
my fan used to drain my battery....and my battery would die if I left the air condidtioner in the on position even if the car was off...also, if you leave the key in the ignition for a long time that will drain the battery, it has something to do with the seat belts.. I'm always having battery problems.
my fan used to drain my battery....and my battery would die if I left the air condidtioner in the on position even if the car was off...also, if you leave the key in the ignition for a long time that will drain the battery, it has something to do with the seat belts.. I'm always having battery problems.
Re: Draining battery problems! (Weaver)
quote:[HR][/HR]Hows your starter?[HR][/HR]
Re: Draining battery problems! (PinoyG60)
I re-ran some 4AWG wire to my starter and from the alternator to the battery, and I have not had any more issues with my battery. The OEM wire going to the starter was chewed up under all that dirt/oil that was caked up on it.....perhaps it was there that I was grounding out ever so slowly and thus draining my battery???
I re-ran some 4AWG wire to my starter and from the alternator to the battery, and I have not had any more issues with my battery. The OEM wire going to the starter was chewed up under all that dirt/oil that was caked up on it.....perhaps it was there that I was grounding out ever so slowly and thus draining my battery???
Re: Draining battery problems! (TexasCorradoG60)
Texas, I had a similar problem and found a similar solution.
My battery started dying, seemingly at random, about twice a week. I figured there was some sort of short somewhere, causing a drain. First I thought it was only happening when it rained, but that wasn't it. Then I thought maybe it had to do with my power locks, windows, seatbelts, trunk light, etc. I checked all the usual suspects for a battery drain and found nothing.
Then I measured the voltage at the alternator, thinking maybe my battery just wasnt getting charged fully when I drove. My alternator was putting out 13.9 volts though. Then I got an idea - I measured the voltage at the battery with the car running. With a battery fresh off the overnight charger, it was only reading 12.75 or so volts. That was my problem - the alternator was providing the car with juice to run, but was not recharging the battery.
I replaced the cables from the battery to the starter, starter to the alternator, and battery to ground. All with 2awg cables. Now, I read 13.9v at the alternator, and 13.85v at the battery with the car on.
Moral of the story - anyone with a dead battery problem shouldn't overlook the battery/alternator/starter cables. Mine looked fine to the naked eye (no evidence of damage or corrosion) but were causing my battery to die.
-Nate
Texas, I had a similar problem and found a similar solution.
My battery started dying, seemingly at random, about twice a week. I figured there was some sort of short somewhere, causing a drain. First I thought it was only happening when it rained, but that wasn't it. Then I thought maybe it had to do with my power locks, windows, seatbelts, trunk light, etc. I checked all the usual suspects for a battery drain and found nothing.
Then I measured the voltage at the alternator, thinking maybe my battery just wasnt getting charged fully when I drove. My alternator was putting out 13.9 volts though. Then I got an idea - I measured the voltage at the battery with the car running. With a battery fresh off the overnight charger, it was only reading 12.75 or so volts. That was my problem - the alternator was providing the car with juice to run, but was not recharging the battery.
I replaced the cables from the battery to the starter, starter to the alternator, and battery to ground. All with 2awg cables. Now, I read 13.9v at the alternator, and 13.85v at the battery with the car on.
Moral of the story - anyone with a dead battery problem shouldn't overlook the battery/alternator/starter cables. Mine looked fine to the naked eye (no evidence of damage or corrosion) but were causing my battery to die.
-Nate
Re: Draining battery problems! (SaabFan)
Hey thanks guys...I appreciate all your advice!!!!
Hey thanks guys...I appreciate all your advice!!!!
Re: Draining battery problems! (TexasCorradoG60)
-Nate
quote:[HR][/HR]I was thinking about ussing 2AWG wire as well. I did forget to mention that I also replaced the Ground wire as well. http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif [HR][/HR]
Yeah, the ground wire ended up being the one causing my problem. I used 2awg 'cause it was only a couple bucks more than the 4awg, so I figured why not? I'm sure you could get away with 4 or even a smaller gauge. Some day I'm gonna stick my battery in the trunck where it belongs and then I'll use something bigger than 2awg.-Nate
Re: Draining battery problems! (SaabFan)
where can I get these 2awg's at? and how much? should there be only 1 ground wire connected to the battery? or more? thanks guys!
where can I get these 2awg's at? and how much? should there be only 1 ground wire connected to the battery? or more? thanks guys!
Re: Draining battery problems! (PinoyG60)
I bought the cabling from my local chain parts store. They have a whole rack of pre-made battery cables (ie ends already crimped on ) in every combination of size and length. Actually, I went to two local chains and they both had a good selection.
In my car, there are lots of wires feeding directly off the battery. Not sure how standard this is cause the PO did some wacky things with wiring on this car. the ground wire we are talking about is the big huge thick cable (I think it is 4awg stock) that runs from the battery to a ground point right behind the battery. Then, it runs over to the starter ground post. The other two main wires you should be concerned with are the wire running from the alternator to the starter, and from the starter to the battery.
The designation "2awg" or "4awg" refers to the size of the wire. Larger number means smaller wire. ie 2awg is huge stuff, 4awg is a little smaller. The wires for your stereo head unit are probably 16awg. Most cars come with 4awg for the battery cables, though 2awg is common on some, and smaller stuff like 6 or 8awg on other cars.
edit: to answer your other question, I think I paid $20 something for all the cables I used.
-Nate
[Modified by SaabFan, 1:32 PM 11-28-2001]
I bought the cabling from my local chain parts store. They have a whole rack of pre-made battery cables (ie ends already crimped on ) in every combination of size and length. Actually, I went to two local chains and they both had a good selection.
In my car, there are lots of wires feeding directly off the battery. Not sure how standard this is cause the PO did some wacky things with wiring on this car. the ground wire we are talking about is the big huge thick cable (I think it is 4awg stock) that runs from the battery to a ground point right behind the battery. Then, it runs over to the starter ground post. The other two main wires you should be concerned with are the wire running from the alternator to the starter, and from the starter to the battery.
The designation "2awg" or "4awg" refers to the size of the wire. Larger number means smaller wire. ie 2awg is huge stuff, 4awg is a little smaller. The wires for your stereo head unit are probably 16awg. Most cars come with 4awg for the battery cables, though 2awg is common on some, and smaller stuff like 6 or 8awg on other cars.
edit: to answer your other question, I think I paid $20 something for all the cables I used.
-Nate
[Modified by SaabFan, 1:32 PM 11-28-2001]
Re: Draining battery problems! (PinoyG60)
I have the OEM wire and an other ground wire that I added in. You can get the great looking wire at a car audio shop, or just the plain Jane red or black wire at your local electronics store (not Radio Shack) or at any Welding supply outfit. At the welding supply place expect to pay around 1.50 - 2.75 per foot, whereas it will cost you over 4-5 bucks a foot for the good stuff at the audio shops. Thats the price for 4AWG I did not inquire about 2AWG.
I have the OEM wire and an other ground wire that I added in. You can get the great looking wire at a car audio shop, or just the plain Jane red or black wire at your local electronics store (not Radio Shack) or at any Welding supply outfit. At the welding supply place expect to pay around 1.50 - 2.75 per foot, whereas it will cost you over 4-5 bucks a foot for the good stuff at the audio shops. Thats the price for 4AWG I did not inquire about 2AWG.
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