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    #1

    Battery drainage , Good alt & battery

    I can't figure out at all whats making my battery die. at first I thought it was the freezing weather but after I went a week of it starting in 10 degree weather I came to conclusion thats not it. Tested battery, all is well , alternator is charging

    Any ideas? its a 88 GM . I can't be having this I just got a new job last thing i need is it being dead when im about to leave and have to jump it .

    Thoughts?

    Lights go off when they should , I use cruise control, idk what it could be i cleaned what little corrosion on battery terminals there was still nothing.


    ps im curious if I use cruise control and don't press the off button could that cause anything.

    Thanks
    Tags: None
    #2
    check the "square" plug on the alternator...if it looks even remotely bad,it is.....change it(its $9.99 @ oreilly....BWD part#PT780)..if this plug is shorted out it will drain your battery quickly(another way to check is to touch the plug when the motor is cold,if it is warmer than everything else.its bad)...ive had to replace more than one for the same issue you seem to be having on different cars).....also,if this plug is bad,it can be a fire hazard..(best bet is going to a 3g alternator swap,but this will get you by)
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      #3
      Check the underhood light. In fact, check all of them. Trunk light, glove box, any underseat lights. My car would drain the battery for months, even with a good battery and alternator, and I had absolutely no clue why. Turns out it was the underhood light that would stay on when the car was off and the hood was closed, not open. I felt like a complete dingus after finding that out.

      Also get a multimeter. They are cheap and they make diagnosing electrical issues exponentially easier.

      1989 Lincoln Town Car Signature Series | 249k miles, current project car
      2018 BMW 430i xDrive M-Sport | 50k miles
      2018 Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport | 97k miles

      Comment

        #4
        When you get a multimeter, set it to DC Ohms, disconnect the battery, and hook it up in series with the negative terminal. If you get anything above .02 amps (or something like that) start pulling fuses until it goes away. Make sure the doors are shut and engine compartment light is out when you're doing this.

        1989 Lincoln Town Car Signature Series | 249k miles, current project car
        2018 BMW 430i xDrive M-Sport | 50k miles
        2018 Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport | 97k miles

        Comment

          #5
          All my lights seem to be going off, under the hood light is burned out but is still plugged in. This is irritating

          Comment

            #6
            don't assume the light is burned out unless it's visibly a broken filament or you remove it. many times the hood light will light after shutting the hood when things are screwy.

            Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former. -- Albert Einstein
            rides: 93 Crown Vic LX (The Red Velvet Cake), 2000 Crown Vic base model (Sandy), 2003 Expedition (the vacation beast)

            Originally posted by gadget73
            ... and it should all work like magic and unicorns and stuff.

            Originally posted by dmccaig
            Overhead, some poor bastards are flying in airplanes.

            Comment

              #7
              So I charged the battery over night for shts and giggles, it reads good , now the car is stalling out when I shift out of park but it starts fine.

              Im having nothing but problems with this car now I don't want to have to sell it

              Comment

                #8
                low idle... check timing... maybe just needs the throttle body/idle air control cleaned. with the engine off and the intake tube/elbow off, open the throttle and look in. If it's really black behind the butterfly, then it needs to be cleaned. get a can of throttle body/carb cleaner and follow the instructions on the car to the letter. That may be all you need.

                Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former. -- Albert Einstein
                rides: 93 Crown Vic LX (The Red Velvet Cake), 2000 Crown Vic base model (Sandy), 2003 Expedition (the vacation beast)

                Originally posted by gadget73
                ... and it should all work like magic and unicorns and stuff.

                Originally posted by dmccaig
                Overhead, some poor bastards are flying in airplanes.

                Comment

                  #9
                  Originally posted by slymer View Post
                  don't assume the light is burned out unless it's visibly a broken filament or you remove it. many times the hood light will light after shutting the hood when things are screwy.
                  ^^ This is exactly what happened to me. Listen to what this man says! It will save you a lot of grief and money in the long run if you start with the simple solutions first, since those are the easiest to fix. Unplug that light and see if the drain goes away.

                  1989 Lincoln Town Car Signature Series | 249k miles, current project car
                  2018 BMW 430i xDrive M-Sport | 50k miles
                  2018 Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport | 97k miles

                  Comment

                    #10
                    Ok so im starting to think i got a false reading on alt or battery. The battery is ONLY 2 years old so idk. I just jump started the car and went in to lock up house came out and the car was dead again after it was just running . Its progressively getting worse what do you guys think this is for sure . Tight on money :/

                    Comment

                      #11
                      Was the car running while you went into the house? Your battery isn't going to drain itself completely in just a few minutes. Go get the alternator tested at an autoparts store, they'll test your battery and alternator for free. If your battery has been drained really bad, it may not be able to charge right anymore.
                      Last edited by L1011tristar17; 01-12-2013, 09:05 PM.

                      1989 Lincoln Town Car Signature Series | 249k miles, current project car
                      2018 BMW 430i xDrive M-Sport | 50k miles
                      2018 Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport | 97k miles

                      Comment

                        #12
                        My WalFart batteries go bad every 2 years, or pretty near. Its a 3 year free replacement, and this is at least the fourth battery. I haven't paid for one yet. Just because its not ancient doesn't mean its not shot. Most auto parts stores will test them for free.
                        86 Lincoln Town Car (Galactica).
                        5.0 HO, CompCams XE258,Scorpion 1.72 roller rockers, 3.55 K code rear, tow package, BHPerformance ported E7 heads, Tmoss Explorer intake, 65mm throttle body, Hedman 1 5/8" headers, 2.5" dual exhaust, ASP underdrive pulley

                        91 Lincoln Mark VII LSC grandpa spec white and cranberry

                        1984 Lincoln Continental TurboDiesel - rolls coal

                        Originally posted by phayzer5
                        I drive a Lincoln. I can't be bothered to shift like the peasants and rabble rousers

                        Comment

                          #13
                          Originally posted by L1011tristar17 View Post
                          Was the car running while you went into the house? Your battery isn't going to drain itself completely in just a few minutes. Go get the alternator tested at an autoparts store, they'll test your battery and alternator for free. If your battery has been drained really bad, it may not be able to charge right anymore.
                          Yeah it died in the 2 minutes i left it running. Any tips on not so crazy expensive alternators? I JUST bought a radiator and fuel filter

                          Comment

                            #14
                            The only thing is when I tested it , the number was going up on the battery like it was charging it , while the car was running.

                            Comment

                              #15
                              drop by Autozone or something and ask them to test the battery and alternator before you buy stuff you may not need.
                              86 Lincoln Town Car (Galactica).
                              5.0 HO, CompCams XE258,Scorpion 1.72 roller rockers, 3.55 K code rear, tow package, BHPerformance ported E7 heads, Tmoss Explorer intake, 65mm throttle body, Hedman 1 5/8" headers, 2.5" dual exhaust, ASP underdrive pulley

                              91 Lincoln Mark VII LSC grandpa spec white and cranberry

                              1984 Lincoln Continental TurboDiesel - rolls coal

                              Originally posted by phayzer5
                              I drive a Lincoln. I can't be bothered to shift like the peasants and rabble rousers

                              Comment

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