Battery keeps discharging.

[dcwoah]

hi everyone new to forum but have 2 questions.

My brother wrecked his 240 and let me have it, i fixed it up now but em having some problems. switched in a half year old battery into the car. I can drive it for a few days and then it drains. I had the alternator rebuild popped it in, drove the car around for a day, once i parked i tried to start it up again and it didnt crank. I went inside came back out 40minutes later and the car started up so the alternator did charge. i drove it around again and same probably only the car didnt start anymore. also im not sure if this has anything to do with it but my left headlight does not turn on. I also noticed the the battery seemed like it was getting drained more when i turned the headlight on.

1. should i take out alternator again and have it checked?2. after i get a tester where would the best place be to start checking?

[theother1wstolen]

your headlight problem is probably going to be the switch, assuming only the high beam works or only the low beam. get a voltmeter and test the battery voltage with the car off and running to make sure the alternator is charging. its possible that you have some relays sticking, but i dont think that would drain the battery in 40 minutes.

[dcwoah]

the left headlight doesnt turn on either low or high. I havent turned on the headlights in 3 days, the battery is fully charged and the car still starts. I turned it on earlier and pulled the postive cable off the battery and it died, so i guess im gonna have to get the alternator rebuilt again. thanks for feedback, can you inform me more about the sticking relay?

[theother1wstolen]

im pretty sure you shouldnt pull the battery cable off while its running for a few reasons, and if that isnt as bad as i think it is, its still a terrible way of testing the alternator. for spend $6 on a cheapo centech meter, you wont regret it.

[theother1wstolen]

you may want to check all of the connections etc for the alternator, your grounds, etc etc. but absolutely go buy a volt meter before you even get started on this problem

[foolishdrift]

Double check the alternator, also buy a cheap multi-meter and begin running tests. Make sure its reading around 14v with the car running and no acc. on, if so then your alternator is good. Then check to see if you getting an excessive draw off of the battery when the car is turned off, if so you likely have a major short somewhere. To me it almost sounds like that headlight that is poped up is drawing even while the cars off, like leaving you headlights on. Take out the relay/fuse to that head light and see if it solves the problem. The FSM is quite good at trouble shooting electrical problems once you get that multi-meter.

[dcwoah]

I went out and got a volt test, the alternator was getting power and the headlight problem was a bad fuse and a cut wire, i hope this is what was draining the battery. Im gonna run the car a few nights see what goes on. I absolutely appreciate your help guys.

[Cone Junky]

No where in the post was a mention about verifying you have a good battery...

Instead of just randomly having your alternator rebuilt -again- find out what the problem is

If the battery tests good (with a proper load tester, of course), bust out the multimeter and start checking for amperage draw.

[Vegascorbin]

[virus77]

If battery is good do the following:

Disconnect the ground from your battery with the car off. Connect a simple test light from the ground cable to your battery negative post. If you have an amp draw with your car off (which you probably do) the test light will be on, which is why your battery is draining. Then start pulling fuses one by one until the light turns off... now you can diagnose whatever circuit is drawing amps or if you are lucky its a stupid fuse you don't need so you can just leave it out lol.

[gumby]

Definitely check the alternator, the alternators designed for these cars are not robust, in my experience rebuilt alternators only last a year on average.

Also be wary of Exide and other cheaper batteries. I had similar issues with a new battery which dissapeared after installing an Interstate brand battery.

hope this helps

[dcwoah]

it was the fuse and wire. i been running it pretty hard for the past 3 days, starts right up. im so happy

[rwdisgoo]

oh i had the same problem..