Brand new battery but the car wont hold a charge
#1
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Brand new battery but the car wont hold a charge
Im stuck having to have my mom drive my car to her work while I take hers to mine, so my car doesnt get driven more than a total of 20 minutes a day.
Now, when I get in it on the weekends and clutch in while turning the ignition, the car weakly starts. Tonight was the first time it just flat out died after I took it down the road to 7-11. I had my portable jumper with me and started up it fine, but what the hells the problem? My mom said she was having the same problem earlier today, but after a few cranks she finally got it going (she didnt know I had a portable jumper btw)
What are some common problems that cause this weak charge? Like I said, the battery is new, and Im noticing that when I hit the gas, when the cars on, the interior lights and headlights get a tad bit "stronger".
Now, when I get in it on the weekends and clutch in while turning the ignition, the car weakly starts. Tonight was the first time it just flat out died after I took it down the road to 7-11. I had my portable jumper with me and started up it fine, but what the hells the problem? My mom said she was having the same problem earlier today, but after a few cranks she finally got it going (she didnt know I had a portable jumper btw)
What are some common problems that cause this weak charge? Like I said, the battery is new, and Im noticing that when I hit the gas, when the cars on, the interior lights and headlights get a tad bit "stronger".
#2
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First, make SURE that the connections to the battery are clean. Use a battery brush on the inside of them. Next, check the output of the alternator. You'll need a voltmeter. Do a search here for the voltage you should be seeing.
#4
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Is the alternator even working???
What is the voltage on the volt meter while you are driving??? It should be above 13.5 volts just to charge the battery, and if it is less than 12.6 volts the alt is not even putting out enough juice to run the car, and you are running only on the battery.
What is the voltage on the volt meter while you are driving??? It should be above 13.5 volts just to charge the battery, and if it is less than 12.6 volts the alt is not even putting out enough juice to run the car, and you are running only on the battery.
#5
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Damnit! My mom couldnt eve get the car started today. Neither could I.
My uncle told me awhile ago that a good way to see if its just a bettery problem or an alternator problem was to start the car and then remove the negative connection. If the engine still ran, it was the battery, if it died, it was the alternator. Well, with my old battery the engine was still running with the negative connection off.
My mechaninc who rebuilt my engine has told me that all my belts were on tight, and this was only a couple months ago back in October.
The odd thing is that I cant even jump the car anymore. It just dwindled out the longer I left the key turned with my jumped connected.
I have no clue on how to even connect a voltage meter to the alternator so Im s.o.l. there. I "cleaned" the connectors with a brush when I was installing my new battery. Its about 49 degrees outside now, so should I wait till it gets a bit warmer to try again?
My uncle told me awhile ago that a good way to see if its just a bettery problem or an alternator problem was to start the car and then remove the negative connection. If the engine still ran, it was the battery, if it died, it was the alternator. Well, with my old battery the engine was still running with the negative connection off.
My mechaninc who rebuilt my engine has told me that all my belts were on tight, and this was only a couple months ago back in October.
The odd thing is that I cant even jump the car anymore. It just dwindled out the longer I left the key turned with my jumped connected.
I have no clue on how to even connect a voltage meter to the alternator so Im s.o.l. there. I "cleaned" the connectors with a brush when I was installing my new battery. Its about 49 degrees outside now, so should I wait till it gets a bit warmer to try again?
#6
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Originally posted by EatRiceDontDriveIt
My uncle told me awhile ago that a good way to see if its just a bettery problem or an alternator problem was to start the car and then remove the negative connection. If the engine still ran, it was the battery, if it died, it was the alternator. Well, with my old battery the engine was still running with the negative connection off.
My uncle told me awhile ago that a good way to see if its just a bettery problem or an alternator problem was to start the car and then remove the negative connection. If the engine still ran, it was the battery, if it died, it was the alternator. Well, with my old battery the engine was still running with the negative connection off.
Without the battery the internal regulator in the alt can go ballistic trying to charge a battery, usually taking out several of the rectifiers with it. And the battery acts a capacitor for the system when the engine is running.
Again as posted before:
What is the voltage on the volt meter while you are driving??? It should be above 13.5 volts just to charge the battery, and if it is less than 12.6 volts the alt is not even putting out enough juice to run the car, and you are running only on the battery.
Last edited by Icemark; 12-09-03 at 10:34 AM.
#7
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I have no clue on how to even connect a voltage meter to the alternator so Im s.o.l. there
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#9
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The odd thing is that I cant even jump the car anymore. It just dwindled out the longer I left the key turned with my jumped connected.
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I would guess it's the alternator. If you can, take the alternator out and take it to a near by auto parts store, something like Autozone. Most of them will do a free test on the alternator and sell you one if it's dead. The alternator is on top of the engine, so it shouldn't be too hard to remove.
#11
i have the same damn problem, i know for sure its not the alt because if i drive the car around for a while its fine to start up for the next 2 days.
but then if i try to start it in about a week, battery is dead. something is drawing the power and i dont know what it is. this all started happening to me when i hooked up and amp, but then i blew it.
then my battery started to die after a week, so i replaced it, thinking the amp did something to the battery. it was fine for little while now its doing the same **** of not being able to last more than 2 days. i dont have anything connected to it anymore. no amp no nothing. i dont get it.
the alt is fine, when the car is running my charge is near 14, what else could this be thats drawing the power?
but then if i try to start it in about a week, battery is dead. something is drawing the power and i dont know what it is. this all started happening to me when i hooked up and amp, but then i blew it.
then my battery started to die after a week, so i replaced it, thinking the amp did something to the battery. it was fine for little while now its doing the same **** of not being able to last more than 2 days. i dont have anything connected to it anymore. no amp no nothing. i dont get it.
the alt is fine, when the car is running my charge is near 14, what else could this be thats drawing the power?
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Originally posted by rx7raca
ok lets say the battery and alternator arent bad is there anything else that could cause this for the battery to just drain while sitting?
ok lets say the battery and alternator arent bad is there anything else that could cause this for the battery to just drain while sitting?
#16
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you could have a dead short somewhere
try this
dissconnect the neg cable turn everything off close the doors so those lights wont come on
and tap the neg cable to the battery it should not do a thing
if it sparks a little its drawing power from the battery and if you have everything off and all the doors closed so lights wont try to kick on when you tap the termanal your gonna have a dead short somewhere that is killing the battery while its sitting
try this
dissconnect the neg cable turn everything off close the doors so those lights wont come on
and tap the neg cable to the battery it should not do a thing
if it sparks a little its drawing power from the battery and if you have everything off and all the doors closed so lights wont try to kick on when you tap the termanal your gonna have a dead short somewhere that is killing the battery while its sitting
#17
Originally posted by Pinfield357
you could have a dead short somewhere
try this
dissconnect the neg cable turn everything off close the doors so those lights wont come on
and tap the neg cable to the battery it should not do a thing
if it sparks a little its drawing power from the battery and if you have everything off and all the doors closed so lights wont try to kick on when you tap the termanal your gonna have a dead short somewhere that is killing the battery while its sitting
you could have a dead short somewhere
try this
dissconnect the neg cable turn everything off close the doors so those lights wont come on
and tap the neg cable to the battery it should not do a thing
if it sparks a little its drawing power from the battery and if you have everything off and all the doors closed so lights wont try to kick on when you tap the termanal your gonna have a dead short somewhere that is killing the battery while its sitting
#20
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Get a battery charger, and charge up the battery. Then start pulling fuses, leave the car over night, and when you pull one, and the battery stops draining, then you look to see which fuse you pulled, and youve narrowed down the area of the short. Just dont disconnect the negative terminal while the car is running, as Icemark said, you'll kill the alt. Ive had numerous people tell me this is the best way to troubleshoot this type of problem while working on friends domestics, and it could make the problem go from a short to a short and a bad alt.
Last edited by Bio-Weapon; 12-11-03 at 11:51 PM.
#22
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Well, on my part, I have a portable jumper and I cant jump start the car now.
When I turn the ignition, the engine makes a muffled, dieing sound that revs down until all there are are rapid clicking" noises... The battery isnt drained as the engine lights and door lights still work... I called my mechanic and he said its possibly my starter thats f'd up... He said to push start it and get it to him to check out... Ill do it Tuesday.
Only thing is how am I gonna push start my car on my own with a curved road??
When I turn the ignition, the engine makes a muffled, dieing sound that revs down until all there are are rapid clicking" noises... The battery isnt drained as the engine lights and door lights still work... I called my mechanic and he said its possibly my starter thats f'd up... He said to push start it and get it to him to check out... Ill do it Tuesday.
Only thing is how am I gonna push start my car on my own with a curved road??
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I had a similar problem with my starter. The car would barely turn over, and then crap itself. So I got the starter rebuilt, and then the alternator went. So I got a new alternator and now I have more problems. The CD player works when it feels like it, and the headlight get brighter when I am on the gas, not to mention the voltage reads all the way at the top and the Oil pressure gauge reads the same. Sorry to distract from the original posters problems..but you guys have any ideas for me ?