So I just replaced my battery on thursday, drove my Cruiser until thursday night, and on friday morning it was completely dead. No dash lights, nothing. I'm going to be testing current across the fuse sockets later today, but I need some input from other people. Experience, possible causes, etc?
Electrical leak - Experience, ideas, diagnosis?
- Thread starter Eicca
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You need to find out if it is charging as well as if it is discharging. What voltage do you have at the battery when the truck is idling?
- Thread starter
- #3
Anywhere between 10 and 15 volts.
I also forgot to mention that the leak is greater than 2 amps. Charging at 2 amps while still connected to the car did nothing, while charging at 2A with the battery out of the car in the garage is successful.
I also forgot to mention that the leak is greater than 2 amps. Charging at 2 amps while still connected to the car did nothing, while charging at 2A with the battery out of the car in the garage is successful.
Connect your multimeter to the battery terminals and start pulling fuses until the current load disappears. Quick way to narrow down the source(s) of the drain.
- Thread starter
- #5
That's what I'm doing... Hopefully I come up with results... I'm betting it's a short to ground somewhere, why else would it drain the battery overnight?
Anyone else had experience with electrical leaks?
Anyone else had experience with electrical leaks?
How about checking the alternator.
Sounds like you are not charging properly. Check the voltage at the battery before and after starting. If the alternator is working correctly, it should be higher after starting.
Sounds like you are not charging properly. Check the voltage at the battery before and after starting. If the alternator is working correctly, it should be higher after starting.
How about checking the alternator.
Totally. With the symptoms you describe, the alternator would be the very first thing I'd check.
I'll keep my wise-ass comments to myself here.
If you are getting a range of voltage at the battery when it is idling - there is something very wrong. You should at least get a constant mid-13V at the battery while idling.
- Thread starter
- #9
It's constant when the car is on, but it changes between that range each time I start it up.
And another random question: is it possible for the alternator to seize? Should I be able to turn it by hand, even just slightly?
And another random question: is it possible for the alternator to seize? Should I be able to turn it by hand, even just slightly?
You should be able to turn it.
With the belts off, it should turn easily. If you have a siezed bearing, it would make a hell of a lost of noise when running.
I would think you would have a hard time ignoring it.- Thread starter
- #13
Confirmed, it was the alternator. Unplugged it, and 0.12 amps were being drawn steadily from the battery. Plugged in, it was pulling 2.5 and dropping rapidly. The battery is almost dead now, but I'll be getting a new alternator soon.
On top of that, the bearings did in fact seize... Now I need a new belt too...
On top of that, the bearings did in fact seize... Now I need a new belt too...
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0.12A quiescent draw is rather high. 24 hours would mean 24 x 0.12 = 2.9 Ah per day. That would give you a fairly discharged battery in a couple of weeks. Do you have ANY non-stock electrical equipment installed?
How loose were your belts with a seized alternator? I've seen an AC compressor seize and smoke was coming out of the engine bay in just a few minutes from the belt. I can't imagine driving around with a seized alternator (given there's 2 belts involved) without some serious indication being exhibited, e.g. alternator warning light coming on and voltmeter displaying lower than normal voltage.
cheers,
george.
How loose were your belts with a seized alternator? I've seen an AC compressor seize and smoke was coming out of the engine bay in just a few minutes from the belt. I can't imagine driving around with a seized alternator (given there's 2 belts involved) without some serious indication being exhibited, e.g. alternator warning light coming on and voltmeter displaying lower than normal voltage.
cheers,
george.
And?Oh, the things I didn't know 8 years ago...
Your alt is dead. Rebuild it or replace it.
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^ I think he replaced it 8 years ago
The new question was the 0.12A draw. Would have been better to have started a new thread though...
cheers,
george.
The new question was the 0.12A draw. Would have been better to have started a new thread though...
cheers,
george.
