Battery draining

Tiny
98CHEVY
  • MEMBER
  • 1998 CHEVROLET TRUCK
How do I look for a battery drain problem (new battery did not help, alt. Works fine) if you could help I would appreciate it

Thanks larry
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Saturday, October 30th, 2010 AT 2:31 PM

18 Replies

Tiny
DAVE KELSEA
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Try the obvious first. Unplug underhood light, there is a simple connector right there.Next remove glovebox lightbulb, m glove box door no longer shuts unless you slam it. Check to see if drainage stopped with DC voltmeter at battery. Next yank Radio/stereo fuse, we had a off duty local stereo guy install a stereo for free. Check for drain again. Pull power window/lock fuse. The wife leaves the window cracked even in rain. Water got it. Check for drain with this guide

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-battery-dead-overnight

Plenty of YouTube videos out there showing how to check battery drain. Save money, DC voltmeters are easy to purchase compared to dealership/mechanic fees and a few minutes of your time.

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Wednesday, March 1st, 2017 AT 11:30 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,544 POSTS
Hey Dave,

Great addition to this thread! Please feel free to help out on the site whenever it can add information that will help.

Here is a great resource for the problem

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-battery-dead-overnight

Has a video too!

Best, Ken
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Friday, March 3rd, 2017 AT 6:28 PM
Tiny
TROUT BUM
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1998 CHEVROLET TRUCK
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 105,000 MILES
Electrical problem
1998 Chevy Truck V8 Four Wheel Drive Automatic 105000 miles

Battery draining will sitting off for a couple weeks. Connected test lamp between + battery terminal & + cable & had light (slight on/off pulse) & could hear clicking noise under dash like relay or. With radio & xfer case fuse out, no test lamp. With xfer case fuse in, solid test lamp. With radio fuse in, pulsing test lamp & clicking whether xfer case fuse in or out. Alternator is 1 yr old & tested 14A @ idle but came up with RPM. Radio LEDs & clock are off when key is out. Is there something else in the radio that would make the test lamp pulse and click like a relay? What is in the xfer case that is electic?
Thanks for the tips!
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Friday, March 3rd, 2017 AT 6:30 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MASTERTECHTIM
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,749 POSTS
You need to start with a fully charged battery then check for draw with a amp meter on 10 amp scale and let me know what amps you are drawing. Should be around.033amps. Let me know
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Friday, March 3rd, 2017 AT 6:30 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BUCKMANT
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  • 1 POST
  • 1996 CHEVROLET TRUCK
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 120,000 MILES
Electrical problem
1996 Chevy Truck 6 cyl Two Wheel Drive Automatic 120000 miles

why does battery draw down immediatly when starting, has new battery new starter, where could the problem be?
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Friday, March 3rd, 2017 AT 6:30 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
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Get the alternator load tested if okay -look for a short circuit that may be draining the battery overnite


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/12900_parastic_draw_1_68.jpg

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Friday, March 3rd, 2017 AT 6:30 PM (Merged)
Tiny
  • MEMBER
  • 0 POST
  • 1996 CHEVROLET TRUCK
  • 220 MILES
Brand new battery. Brand new alternator. Battery won't stay charged. What could possibly be the problem?
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Friday, March 3rd, 2017 AT 6:30 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
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What is the voltage at the battery with the motor running?

Roy
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Friday, March 3rd, 2017 AT 6:30 PM (Merged)
Tiny
TOONER123
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1993 CHEVROLET TRUCK
1993 Chevy Truck V8

My 1993 chevy truck battery goes dead. I have replaced the battery 3 times now. I had my alternater checked out at a auto-zone, they said it was good. What else could it be?
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Saturday, January 11th, 2020 AT 3:21 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DR LOOT
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,311 POSTS
I can help you resolve the issue but Due to the high volume of no responses to posted questions, if you have not resolved your issue and you need further assistance, please respond.
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Saturday, January 11th, 2020 AT 3:21 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MELTON675
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1992 CHEVROLET TRUCK
I was given a 1992 Lunina Euro, 3.1. It has run good for 2 months then the battery started draining over night. I bought a new battery and it was fine for another month but then I started having the same problem. I had the batter, alt, and starting system checked, I also had it checked for any shorts. No problems could be found anywhere. The other night I had it jumped again to try and find the problem and noticed that the light around the driver side door lock was not shutting off. Could that be draining the battery and if so how do I disconnect it :
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Saturday, January 11th, 2020 AT 3:21 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
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Remove the door panel reach in there and remove the bulb or change the switch for the lite on that side.
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Saturday, January 11th, 2020 AT 3:21 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SAMMIEDUKE
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Remove the door panel reach in there and remove the bulb or change the switch for the lite on that side.[/Quote:7cc1650f6f]
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Saturday, January 11th, 2020 AT 3:21 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Yeap it will drain your battery below 12.4volts-you need voltages over this just to crank the engine over.

Remove the door panel reach in there and remove the bulb or change the switch for the lite on that side.[/Quote:c32aa3b32d][/quote:c32aa3b32d]
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Saturday, January 11th, 2020 AT 3:21 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CHEVYMECHANIC
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1993 CHEVROLET TRUCK
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
What cause to drain the battery down when not in use
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Saturday, January 11th, 2020 AT 3:21 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
You can have the battery and the charging system tested. Check for any lites left after vehicle is turned off, interior, under the hood, anywhere. Best time to check is in the dark. You can take battery cable loose, use testlite between cable and battery post. If the lite comes on bright, you have a drain. If the problem is on a fused circuit, you can remove/replace fuses one at a time. When you pull the fuse on the faulty circuit, the lite goes out.
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Saturday, January 11th, 2020 AT 3:21 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CSTOUT2000
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1975 CHEVROLET TRUCK
Electrical problem
1975 Chevy Truck V8 Two Wheel Drive Automatic? Miles

This is my second question for my battery drain problem. I'd like to ask if removing the positive battery cable would be a way of checking if the alternator is bad. I've also been told by a few mechanics that doing this will have a negative impact on the starter solenoid and or starter. Is this true? We weren't noticing any drain before we disconnected the cable. By the way Wal Mart performed this to check the alternator. He said that's one way to check to see if it's bad.

Hey, been a bit since I last visited and need some help on my battery drain problem on my '75 Chevy Scottsdale C10. Just wanted to inquire if a bad stater solenoid or possibly the starter would drain a new battery over a period of about 10 days. I've checked the alternator by disconnnecting the positive terminal on the battery while she's running and it stays alive. I'm not too sure if this is a good way or not but I'm having the alternator checked by a local shop. THANKS GUYS
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Saturday, January 11th, 2020 AT 3:21 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BMRFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 19,053 POSTS
Do you use the truck every day and still you battery drain after 10 days or so of driving
if so
then you need to check the out put of the alternator and if its enough to keep that new battery topped off
and if it sit then need to do a draw test on the battery
with truck off key out every thing off
disconnect one side of the battery
get your self a test light and hook it in between the battery and the disconnected cable if it lights up strong then you have a draw draining the battery
best way to check it
is to pull fuses one at a time
watch the light if it goes out then you need to find what that fuse control

this SS you see in here was giving me almost the same problem
voltage regulator was no good
it was not enough to keep the battery full with radio running and lights.
But standing still was enough to keep engine running
check that too
good luck
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Saturday, January 11th, 2020 AT 3:21 PM (Merged)

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