Over winter my battery wouldnt hold a charge. I would charge my battery 100% and then drive my car for a little. A day later I would try to start my car and it would click and wouldnt turn over. Ive gone through several brand new batteries now with the same problem. Does anyone know whats going on? Is there something that could be drawing the power from the battery while hte car is off?

 

first response is always altenator... if you take your car to ZutoZone, they will test it for free...

 

Do you have an aftermarket stereo amp? If so it's quite possible it's not connected to a switched 12v source but a constant on source, or the wire has abraded under the carpet and caused a short, or any of a number of other things involving simple connections and shorts.

I'm betting your alternator is going bad (but not totally gone) though. That's the kind of thing that murders batteries in just the way you're seeing. Even if it's just not charging 100% that kills batteries.

 

My first guess would be alternator. Second would be aftermarket stereo system.

 

I had the same issue. Could never get it down to any one thing or issue. Alternator was prefectly fine, all of my wiring seemed fine, just nothing. That was the main determining factor for me to sell my 'Stang...

Hope you have more luck then I did..

 

yea if i don't drive mine every few days it'll kill it. idk what it is either. i need to get the altenator checked.

 

Do you have access to a D.C. amp meter (clamp style) ? If so, you can see if any amps are being drawn out of the battery when everything is off. You can also check to see if the alt. is putting out any amps when its running.

 

he has no aftermarket stereo so thats out

 

Check the voltage when car is running!

Start car, pop hood, get 12volt DC meter and touch the battery terminals, if less than 13.8 volts, the alt. is dead!

Make sure all the acc. are off when you check, then turn all acc. on! Lights, heater, radio, wipers and then check.
Note the diffrence in voltage.

If this is the problem, I would say you are in the 12 volt range without acc. on and below 11v with them on.

 

My car has done the same chit since I bought it new..... Dealership put 2 batteries in it I have put 1 and I am ready to buy another. My batt. didnt drain that fast, it normally took like a day and a half to 2 days to make my car not start. Infact I had to boost the damn thing off this morning to go to work. But If I drive it everyday and dont let it sit the batt will get me started.

 

that's about what I get if I don't turn off my constant power gauges. Good thing I installed them with their own separate power switch, so I can turn em off separate from the car.

 

My '02 was doing the same thing. I did have U/D pullies on it so I switched out the Alt pulley back to stock and it's been better. I was sitting in the line for emission check once not paying attention idling. Lights on, stock stereo on, AC on......then it all cut out and died on me. Had to push it though E-Check (they wouldn't test it since it wouldn't start). My father's '05 does it too. He just keeps a battery tender on it (only drives a few times a year but was always greeted with a dead battery).

 

Why do you guys keep switchin out the batteries? The problem is most likely the alt. I was having the same problem a few months back. My battery would carry a low charge in the mornings. I thought it was due to the cold weather cause after I drove it for about five mins the voltage would go to its normal range. It was fine in the evenings once the weather warmed up. But would do it again in the morning. The battery light would come on also. Well I replaced the battery, and guess what same problem. So I pulled the alt. And sure enough thats what it was. I would just try a new alt. And if that doesn't work you can at least take it back.

 

im feeling lucky, I have never had a battery issue. and I have an aftermarket stereo with amp and sub.

Cant keep being the battery, so stop changing that...use a DVOM to check the alt, while the car is running, and the batt also while running. I think thats been said already though.

 

shot in the dark
my car did the same thing, looked and my batter connectors was tight but moved just barely and that still kills batteries, so i got some copper wire and wrapped it around the out side of my battery terminal and the forced the connector on and tightened, put more and more wire around until i have a nice big space going, have had it like that for about a month now and no problems even when it gets cold... but check you terminals if they are loose it will drain you battery..