Things that could drain a battery???

[86brick]

Okay I need some ideas on what could drain the battery.... I've heard there is a piece in the alternator that if or when it goes bad can drain the battery, but is there anything else?? I have an alarm system on the car and I'm wondering if that could possibly be the cause..... The car does sit mostly at this point in time, however, I make sure that it is started twice a week if I don't drive it.... Please give me some ideas/suggestions because I just put a new battery in this car about a month ago so I know something has to be causing it to drain....

TIA

BTW, how much does a good portable battery charger go for and where could I get one because I am seriously considering it at this point!!!

 

[bruce]

Originally posted by 86brick
Okay I need some ideas on what could drain the battery.... I've heard there is a piece in the alternator that if or when it goes bad can drain the battery, but is there anything else?? I have an alarm system on the car and I'm wondering if that could possibly be the cause..... The car does sit mostly at this point in time, however, I make sure that it is started twice a week if I don't drive it.... Please give me some ideas/suggestions because I just put a new battery in this car about a month ago so I know something has to be causing it to drain....

how much does a good portable battery charger go for and where could I get one because I am seriously considering it at this point!!!

Yes a bad diode in the alternator can do that.
Bad trunk light switch.
High resistance short to ground, and that can be about anywhere.
Given long enough, the memory for the clock/radio settings, ECM memory, can do it. Old batteries can fade just sitting all by themselves.

Any decent parts house should have one. Might as well get one with a boost feature, adds to the bill but one good charger is alot more handy then one that takes 24 hours to charge a low battery.

 

[86brick]

Thanks Bruce! Yeah the diode (I couldn't remember the name) in the alternator is what the one guy down here told me he has seen cause the battery to drain... Guess I'll just have to check and see.... Funny thing is I really never had this problem until a few months after this alarm system (Viper) was installed... I am going to call the guy that installed it and see what he has to say.... I might even just disconnect the alarm system and see what happens.... I am definitely going to look into a good battery charger as you mentioned cause I am getting tired of jumping it and it's just a nice piece to have for any and all cars....

 

[bruce]

Originally posted by 86brick
I might even just disconnect the alarm system and see what happens....

That might be a good place to start then.
Just always do something so as to make the car undriveable.

 

[2QUIK6]

On both my turbo cars, it was the fan relay that caused my battery drain problems. Its a larger relay on the driver side fender.
Best bet is to get a amp meter and put in-line with the positive battery cable and start unplugging the things mentioned so far and see what makes the current draw drop. .1A or so is normal for the clock/radio, and a little more for the alarm, but should not be more than .5A or so from what I remember.

 

[86brick]

Originally posted by 2QUIK6
On both my turbo cars, it was the fan relay that caused my battery drain problems. Its a larger relay on the driver side fender.
Best bet is to get a amp meter and put in-line with the positive battery cable and start unplugging the things mentioned so far and see what makes the current draw drop. .1A or so is normal for the clock/radio, and a little more for the alarm, but should not be more than .5A or so from what I remember.

Thanks for the suggestion I will definitely check that as well!

 

[Harry Mash]

An easy way to test for electrical draw is to use a 12 volt test light. Just disconnect the negative cable from the battery and clip the test light to the cable and touch the probe on the test light to the negative battery post. If the light lites you have an electrical draw somewhere. Now start disconnecting circuits by pulling fuses one at a time or by disconnecting suspected items like the alternator or alarm and when the light goes out you have found the problem circuit, Good luck.

 

[$1987 GN$]

Battery drain

The viper alarm does the same thing to my one vehicle it draws more power that the ECM does when it initialises.

As for the current draw if it is .5 amps it will kill the battery in about 2 to 4 days depending on the battery.

The ECM draws about .05 amps 50 milli amps when the car is turned off.

That in itself will kill a battery in a month or two depending on the battery.

If you want to check to see if it is the alt disconnect the cable from it and see what happens.

Easy test and does not cost you anything.

Pull the fuse for the alarm and try that.

Do them one at a time over time or start with the milli amp meter and check all the circuits.

AJ

 

[86brick]

Thanks for all of the good advice guys!!!

I appreciate it

 

[microELVIS]

a drain for me

My blower motor circuit, the one on the passenger side that sits inside the cover for the ac and stuff went on me. The blower motor would turn itself on at night and I would never hear it.

 

[Red Regal T]

How about the most common problem with TRs? The volt lite. Does your volt lite go on when you turn the key on? If not, your speedo case is not making proper contact with the plug behind it to complete the circuit. If the circuit isn't complete, your alternator will not charge the system.

 

[rose1mr]

Dude!

I had the EXACT same problem My car is a garage queen and she would sit for days before I would even start her up. I have an Optima Gel battery in the car, and it would keep dying when I would go to start the car. I figured it was the battery so I went to have a new Optima put in. Before they installed it, they put a tester on the car and found it was pulling alot of juice, and a new battery isnt going to solve the problem. Well, after talking to a few people, a guy who has worked on my car told me about the Coolant Fan Delay Relay. This relay kicks in when the engine temp exceeds 220 degrees. It is the most prone to fail because there is no protection on the relay itself, so when you wash the car, water can short it out in a flash! So, I went up on GMPartsDirect.com (they were the cheapest, but slow as Sh*t getting here) and ordered all 3 relays along that fender wall....the Coolant Fan Delay Relay, Low Speed Fan Relay & High Speed Fan Relay. Hell, the car is 17 years old, and it was short money, so no big deal. I have owned that car for 2 years now, and its the first time I have heard the fan stay running after I shut the car off. I have had it for 2 weeks, and the battery is a full as the last time I charged it.

Do yourself a favor....change the Relay and I will bet you will see the problem gone.