88 Chevy celebrity

BUSHMAN10

MEMBER
1988 CHEVROLET CELEBRITY
6 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
65,000 MILES

If I don't start my car for a week the battery goes dead.I have replaced the battery Once with a diehard and it went dead, then replaced with a interstate battery now it is dead. For some odd reason the battery is being drained. Can you give me some insight to what may be the problem.

2 Replies

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,870 POSTS

You will have to have a parastic load test done on your car that will see if you have too much draw on the system and help to find it.I would also have the alternator tested.

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Monday, January 10th, 2011 AT 11:55 PM

WRENCHTECH

MECHANIC
20,757 POSTS

There is a procedure for finding a battery draw like that.

You will need a digital ammeter and a jumper wire with clips on the ends to do this.
First rig any door switches so you can have a door open without triggering the interior lights and unplug the hood light. Remove one battery cable and attach the meter in series between the battery cable and battery post. Take the jumper wire and also attach it the same way. Leave the jumper wire on for at least 10 minutes to expire all the automatic timers. Now remove the jumper wire and read the meter. Anything over 50ma is too much draw. The way you locate this is to start removing fuses one at a time until the meter drops to normal level. This will be the circuit with something staying on. Determine what components are part of that circuit and check them individually until the problem is isolated.