Battery drain

Tiny
MACAW775
  • MEMBER
  • 2003 CHEVROLET TRACKER
If I don't drive the car a few days and leave it sitting in my driveway, the battery drains completely. I have found there is a clicking from the EGR valve and a buzzing at the relay under the drivers side. What would be causing the EGR valve and relay to be active when the car is not powered on since the ECU powers that relay? What am I missing? Thank you
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Saturday, May 9th, 2015 AT 4:35 PM

7 Replies

Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,606 POSTS
Hello,

It sounds like the main relay is sticking on which is common, here is the location of the relay (below) and a guide to help you test it.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-an-electrical-relay-and-wiring-control-circuit

This guide can help as well

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

Check out the diagrams (Below). Please let us know what you find.
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Sunday, May 10th, 2015 AT 8:27 AM
Tiny
JAMIEJONES
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
Thank you for this post I had a CD stuck in my player drained the battery.
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Monday, February 18th, 2019 AT 4:01 PM
Tiny
WATER_HUNTER
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2001 CHEVROLET TRACKER
  • 6 CYL
I installed a Boss 722CA car stereo into my 2001 Chevy Tracker, but made sure to disconnect the ground terminal of my car's battery before I started the installation.
I connected the ground terminal back to the battery when I thought I was done, but the radio wouldn't turn on; so I disconnected the terminal again to troubleshoot.
It turned out I'd forgotten a couple of wires.
When I fixed the wiring, I connected the ground terminal again, tightly, and the radio worked great.

However, I immediately noticed that my car was having a little bit of trouble turning on (it normally doesn't). And my electric windows were going up really slowly, too.
The next morning, the car wouldn't turn on; it just repeated several clicking sounds. The air conditioning, dome lights, windows, and wipers all worked; though very weakly (much weaker than normal), and eventually stopped working after a while, too.

Gave my car a jump start and it turned on. Left it running a while, then turned it off and waited until next morning to see if the battery would be drained again.
Next morning, yet again, my car did not start.

I really don't know what's wrong, especially since the wiring has been checked and rechecked, but all the wires are correctly paired, joined, taped, and connected.
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Monday, February 18th, 2019 AT 4:02 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Have both battery and alternator load test-start here
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Monday, February 18th, 2019 AT 4:02 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BERNARDSAL
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2004 CHEVROLET TRACKER
  • 2.0L
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 144,000 MILES
Fluctuating power, then brief complete power outage but it returns momentarily. Have replaced battery twice, alternator once. When it completely stops the battery is completely drained. Battery is only two months old. Had a new battery in it before this and had this battery checked at Advance Auto and there was nothing wrong with it. I wonder if a short in the wiring be draining the battery or whether this is a fuel pump problem. This problem has happened three times. First time, cleaning the posts helped for awhile after battery was charged fully. The second time, battery and alternator replaced.
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Monday, February 18th, 2019 AT 4:02 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,606 POSTS
First thing you should check is belt and tensioner both are recommended replacement at 60,000 miles. then you need to check for a parasitic draw for starters. See link.
https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-battery-dead-overnight
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Monday, February 18th, 2019 AT 4:02 PM (Merged)
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 12,869 POSTS
Check the ground cable from the body to the engine block and the cable from the block to the battery. Then check the cable from the alternator that feeds the battery. I've seen a couple vehicles where the body ground was stopping the battery from charging but you could still start the car because the starting relay didn't draw a lot of current.
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Monday, February 18th, 2019 AT 4:02 PM (Merged)

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