Thread: car consuming batteries

Tweet

my truck is eating batteries for breakfast about once a month. I have a normal 60 amp alt. My truck has an electric engine fan which draws 18 amps. I really don't have any other power drawing devices aside from guages, I don't even have a radio in the thing. I thought 60 would be plenty considering this. The alternator works, it is reading over 14 volts when running. Is there something else I should be checking on this alt?

Too high a rate of amperage will boil a battery dry in no time. Get an amp guage.

Is it draining the battery or overcharging it!!! Check the output at the alternator, and see if you have a short somewhere that is draining the battery.... Most parts stores have an inductive amp gauge that they can check the amperage output of the alternator. A simple check to see if you have something draing the battery is to have the key off, then remove the negative cable, when you get the negative cable almost to the negative battery post, is there a spark? If there is, you have something draining the battery.

Dave is right about the auto parts store deal. We see guys all the time asking one question or another about a charging problem, and they always start replacing parts, shooting in the dark. It can be so much easier than that if you just wheel the car into one of the chain auto parts stores, like AutoZone, and they will put their analyzer on it and tell you everything about your charging and starting systems in about 2 minutes, FOR FREE.

I never understand why people are reluctant to take advantage of this service, and it will pinpoint things you would have to chase down for hours or weeks in a few minutes. AND IT"S FREE.

I've done this on many occasions, and they always tell you exactly what is going on, with no obligation. AND IT"S FREE.


Don

Originally Posted by Dave Severson

Is it draining the battery or overcharging it!!! Check the output at the alternator, and see if you have a short somewhere that is draining the battery.... Most parts stores have an inductive amp gauge that they can check the amperage output of the alternator. A simple check to see if you have something draing the battery is to have the key off, then remove the negative cable, when you get the negative cable almost to the negative battery post, is there a spark? If there is, you have something draining the battery.

sounds like a draw to me also, thats what i'd check first. i like to add to what dave said is if its a computer car that won't work because the computer is a Constant draw on the bat., not enough to kill the bat. but enough to see a spark. the computer cant be over .002 amp draw or it will kill the bat.

I'll take it to a store to test, but one other thing may be my starter. I now have to tap my starter with a hammer or something hard to get it to crank. I don't know if those starter problems can drain or it is simply a falty starter.

Originally Posted by lt1s10

sounds like a draw to me also, thats what i'd check first. i like to add to what dave said is if its a computer car that won't work because the computer is a Constant draw on the bat., not enough to kill the bat. but enough to see a spark. the computer cant be over .002 amp draw or it will kill the bat.

Geez, showing my age again, nuttin I own is even new enough to have a computer!!!!

Originally Posted by Dave Severson

Geez, showing my age again, nuttin I own is even new enough to have a computer!!!!

I'm older than you dave and I have a computer. age dont have anything to do with it. you just love to file points I guess.

[QUOTE=lt1s10]I'm older than you dave and I have a computer. age dont have anything to do with it. you just love to file points I guess. [/QUOTE

I'm kind of fond of the 2 wire "plug and play" HEI's on the market now.....but I do have to admit there are some dual point dizzies around here....

well this certainly does not have a computer, the engine is a 71', body a 50.
thanks for the responses, hopefully I'll find something out this weekend and get more than
a month out of a battery.

Personally i would go with the Optimum batteries. they are really great. get the one with the highest amps. they should last u a little longer than around a month

[quote=Dave Severson]

Originally Posted by lt1s10

I'm older than you dave and I have a computer. age dont have anything to do with it. you just love to file points I guess. [/QUOTE

I'm kind of fond of the 2 wire "plug and play" HEI's on the market now.....but I do have to admit there are some dual point dizzies around here....

sense you're into the Hei now, what do you do with the your extra time you save not having to keep those dual points shined up? that should amount to a few hrs. a week.

one thing I probably should have mentioned about the symptoms is that the battery still cranks the engine over fine. You wouldn't know that the battery has a problem except for the fact that it just won't fire, for some reason spark isn't being delivered properly. When this starts happening (cranking fine but not starting) I take it in to the store and they test it and it says the battery is no good.

If it cranks over there's nothing wrong with the battery. You've got an electrical supply problem somewhere.

but for the first couple weeks it starts fine, only after a month or so it won't start. The battery tester in the stores says the battery is no good.