Battery Drain

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noahsdad
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Battery Drain

Post by noahsdad » Fri Feb 19, 2021 10:58 am

Hi all, my most recent dilemma involves a recent dead battery after only 2 days of non use. It is a new-ish battery (5mo.old) and has never been a problem until now. I charged it back up an took her to indy, who found no drain. So along I went, thinking it was a fluke. Nope.... did it again after 2 days of non use. I don't even know where to begin to look for the source of the drain. Is this a "just let the indy deal with it", or is there some secret to finding it myself. Thanks in advance fellas.

BTW, the alternator shows its charging.

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gnat
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Re: Battery Drain

Post by gnat » Fri Feb 19, 2021 11:11 am

2 days is way off. How are you leaving the car (e.g. closed and locked)?

Is the battery properly sized for the car?

Pull the battery and take it into a parts store to have them load test it for you. Either it's a bad battery that can't hold a charge or you have have some vampire your Indy can't see.

If the battery tests good then what you need to do is put an ammeter on the positive cable leaving the battery. The problem, however, is that for the best results you then need to shut the frunk and lock the car for the best results and then you can't exactly see the meter...

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Einsteiger
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Re: Battery Drain

Post by Einsteiger » Fri Feb 19, 2021 1:31 pm

This is very non-scientific, but if its possible to darken the garage enough to tell, maybe there is an interior light bulb that is switched on but not bright enough to be obvious. I've had that happen on other cars.
Kevin
1999 C2 - Vesuvio Gray Metallic
Eastern Kansas

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Dr_Strangelove
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Re: Battery Drain

Post by Dr_Strangelove » Fri Feb 19, 2021 2:09 pm

Do you have anything aftermarket that is hardwired into your circuit like a radar detector or some kind of new fangled hippity-hop music interface?
2003 Carrera: Dark Teal Metallic

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5chn3ll
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Re: Battery Drain

Post by 5chn3ll » Fri Feb 19, 2021 2:56 pm

Unfortunately, there's not a shorter answer I know of than this one for mysterious, new electrical issues:


Understeer: You will hit the wall with the front end.
Oversteer: You will hit the wall with the rear end.
Horsepower: How hard you will hit the wall.
Torque: How far you will move the wall.

Gone hunting with Alec Baldwin and Dick Cheney. Back soon.

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Hatchetf15
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Re: Battery Drain

Post by Hatchetf15 » Sat Feb 20, 2021 4:31 am

Like gnat mentions (and 5chn3ll video), use alligator clips that are long enough for you to run them from battery out front lid between the wipers. Lay the ammeter on the windshield and close the frunk lid. Now you can lock the car with the windows open and ammeter accessible.

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noahsdad
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Location: 1999 996 4/98 build date

Re: Battery Drain

Post by noahsdad » Mon Feb 22, 2021 4:28 pm

Thanks fellas! I'm on it!

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FRUNKenstein
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Re: Battery Drain

Post by FRUNKenstein » Tue Feb 23, 2021 9:56 am

noahsdad wrote: Mon Feb 22, 2021 4:28 pm Thanks fellas! I'm on it!
Let us know when you find the culprit. Electrical gremlins give me the heebie-jeebies, and it's always nice to know what caused one because that's a good place to start if it ever happens to me.
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Hatchetf15
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Re: Battery Drain

Post by Hatchetf15 » Wed Feb 24, 2021 10:53 am

FRUNKenstein wrote: Tue Feb 23, 2021 9:56 am
noahsdad wrote: Mon Feb 22, 2021 4:28 pm Thanks fellas! I'm on it!
Let us know when you find the culprit. Electrical gremlins give me the heebie-jeebies, and it's always nice to know what caused one because that's a good place to start if it ever happens to me.
^^^^ This

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noahsdad
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Re: Battery Drain

Post by noahsdad » Wed Feb 24, 2021 2:36 pm

Jury still out....been driving it daily and it seems to be holding. No time yet to put on multimeter or take battery for diagnostic. I don't have any after- market electrical doodads . Typical electrical gremlins..... My suspicion is that its just a bad battery that just wont hold a charge long, even though its relatively new. I will keep you updated. Thanks!!

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