Author Topic: Car is draining battery...  (Read 1908 times)

Offline thenuke1

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Car is draining battery...
« on: July 31, 2015 - 05:45:50 AM »
I've probably gone through 3 batteries and probably charged each at autozone a hand full of times...

Not sure what the issue is...

When i Rev the engine the lights inside and outside the car go super bright and when I'm at a stop I have to turn the stereo volume down or else the stereo cuts out. The battery gauge goes stays above 8 and about 2 bars below 10...

I have a new regulator for a 440 battery is also supposedly brand new but it's already being drained

Anyone ever have this issue???
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Offline Bullitt-

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Re: Car is draining battery...
« Reply #1 on: July 31, 2015 - 06:23:53 AM »
Have you done the Ammeter bypass & added a new wire from the Alternator output directly to the battery?
If not it would be a good thing to do for the safety of the car & may solve the problem

Do you have any add on items that use power such as electric fans, fuel pump, stereo amps, halogen headlamps?
If so the OE style alternators don't put out much juice at idle so upgrading to a Denso alternator may be in order.

If the above are covered possibly there is something shorting out drawing extra current or your alternator may have issues.
The fact your lights brighten makes me think it is capable of some output but how much.. Your voltmeter (sounds like you have based  on the #s you say tour seeing) should be showing more like 14V when the revs are up even with a lower output OE alternator.
« Last Edit: July 31, 2015 - 06:25:42 AM by Bullitt- »
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Offline Chryco Psycho

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Re: Car is draining battery...
« Reply #2 on: July 31, 2015 - 10:07:08 PM »
sounds to me like you have a draw somewhere that is not shutting off , you can momentarily touch a volt meter set on amps to see if there is a draw there with everything off  , be careful not to hold it between the battery post & cable for more than an instant as it will burn out the meter

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Offline Falbz

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Re: Car is draining battery...
« Reply #3 on: August 01, 2015 - 12:21:37 AM »
sounds to me like you have a draw somewhere that is not shutting off , you can momentarily touch a volt meter set on amps to see if there is a draw there with everything off  , be careful not to hold it between the battery post & cable for more than an instant as it will burn out the meter

 :iagree: Start pulling fuses and see what circuit is draining your battery.  Then go from there

Offline Chryco Psycho

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Re: Car is draining battery...
« Reply #4 on: August 01, 2015 - 07:52:17 AM »
If ti is a fused circuit not an aftermarket hack this may work

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Offline js29no

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Re: Car is draining battery...
« Reply #5 on: August 01, 2015 - 08:41:16 AM »
I was tough to use a test light, disconnect the negative battery cable and hook the test light between the cable and negative post. with every thing off you will have no glow, if the light glows you have draw. then start pulling fuses and when the light go's out see what circuit it is. and that will give you a direction to start looking at.

Offline thenuke1

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Re: Car is draining battery...
« Reply #6 on: August 15, 2015 - 06:30:49 PM »
Thanks for the suggestions fellas... Will report back

Btw the add ons I have are an aftermarket stereo, a bazooka tube amp combo...
(OO{+++++++}I{+++DODGE}OO)
     o                               o 
71 Challenger

If its got BOOBS or an ENGINE, your gonna have problems.

Offline Strawdawg

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Re: Car is draining battery...
« Reply #7 on: August 21, 2015 - 02:48:39 PM »
I would disconnect the amp and stereo and see if the voltage comes up to at least 13 at idle.

I would be very suspicious that a stock alternator could handle the load of an amp at idle in many cases