car won't start need help!!
08-09-2008, 09:32 PM
#1
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 312
car won't start need help!!
Alright, long story short. My car regularly sits 2-10 days between getting driven and also regularly kills the battery. I replace the retained accessory power module, still same issue. 3 weeks later, after sitting for 1 week, I charge the battery up again, check ALL connections(at battery and starter) go to start and it clicks and drops voltage instantly from 13 to 8.5 at the gauge. battery is 2 months old. what do I do now? blame the starter or is there a cheaper gremlin I am unaware of?
08-10-2008, 07:11 AM
#2
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Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 0
First of all a conventional battery is used for starting with a small drain and then it is charged during driving. They can not take being drained entirely and being charged back up more than a few times. That is the purpose of "deep cycle" batteries. So more than likely you have killed the battery. However it can be tested.
If your vehicle were sitting for a month or more and the battery went dead, that would be normal from a minute load placed on it like the radio. However you have a bigger drain than normal if it is killing the battery in a week. You need to find the source of the drain and you should suspect anything electrical that you have added. Especially a big thumping amp. Those things go bad and drain batteries all the time. Also, suspect anything that is directly connected to the battery instead of going to a fuse.
What you want to look for is the circuit that when removed, reduces the current draw on the battery to below 0.02 amps.
The last thing you need to do is remove, clean and re tighten all the red connections at the passenger fender as well as the black ones. The frame to engine ground strap on the driver side also.
If you have a cranking issue with a good battery, the drain removed and wiring cleaned, the next thing to do is have the starter current draw checked.
Also watch out for a defective ignition switch.
If your vehicle were sitting for a month or more and the battery went dead, that would be normal from a minute load placed on it like the radio. However you have a bigger drain than normal if it is killing the battery in a week. You need to find the source of the drain and you should suspect anything electrical that you have added. Especially a big thumping amp. Those things go bad and drain batteries all the time. Also, suspect anything that is directly connected to the battery instead of going to a fuse.
What you want to look for is the circuit that when removed, reduces the current draw on the battery to below 0.02 amps.
The last thing you need to do is remove, clean and re tighten all the red connections at the passenger fender as well as the black ones. The frame to engine ground strap on the driver side also.
If you have a cranking issue with a good battery, the drain removed and wiring cleaned, the next thing to do is have the starter current draw checked.
Also watch out for a defective ignition switch.
05-10-2009, 04:06 PM
#3
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 312
Bringing this back to life. my car still has a problem with the battery. I replaced it again(thank you sears warranty!) and repalced the starter. still goes dead in 3-4 days. also, yesterday drove from san jose to sacramento, 150 miles, and turned my car off. 4 hours later drive to another part of sacramento. turned it off. when i walked back 2 minutes later it barely starts! weak cranking power but full accessory power. anyone have a clue!?!?!
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