1999 Chevy Cavalier Car battery dying, odd clicking sound f

KILLERGOOF

MEMBER
1999 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
4 CYL
FWD
MANUAL
90,000 MILES

Hi everyone
I own a 1999 cavalier 2.4L with a manural transmission, its been having some problems, I recently replaced my alternator because it died on me, and also the battery as well because it wasnt holding a charge. Now my ABS ligh has been on for a couple weeks, and im not sure why but at this point in time I cant afford to pay to get it checkout out, and I really dont mind not having ABS, but now my car cant seem to hold a charge while its off, there seems to be something killing the battery. I try to turn it over, everything kinda came on, the lights and stero, and then shut off very quickly, then when I take the key out, I hear a clicking sound coming from my passenger side of my dash, but if I apply pressure to the brake, to clicking stops, I have no idea whats going on, and right now I cant afford to have someone else look at it, I need help asap as I cant even get to school without having my car. Thanks in advance for any ideas.

7 Replies

F4I_GUY

MECHANIC
3,302 POSTS

Killergoof,

You may have a parasitic draw, this means that a circuit is drawing amperage from your battery while the vehicle is shut off. Get a multimeter that can measure amperage. Remove the negative terminal and place the multimeter inline with the terminal and the battery post. This will give you an amperage reading. You should not have more than an 80 mili amp drain.

Let me know what you find.

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Monday, February 16th, 2009 AT 7:00 PM

KILLERGOOF

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5 POSTS

Alright thanks for the really quick reply iwill go out and pick one up, is there any specific one I need or will anyone work? Do they all measure MA?

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Monday, February 16th, 2009 AT 7:38 PM

F4I_GUY

MECHANIC
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Most of them do measure MA. But you can make sure by reading the packaging.

Goodluck.

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Tuesday, February 17th, 2009 AT 5:43 PM

KILLERGOOF

MEMBER
5 POSTS

Alright so I went and got a multi meter, I also changed my batter just to insure it wasnt that since it was still under warrenty anyways, didnt change anything, put it in, car started, went to start it this morning, and yet again it died, I tried using the multi meter but it wasnt saying it was pulling any amps, im not really sure how to use this multi meter do u have any hints, it didnt come with a manual cause it was bought for me by a good friend who lives far away haaha and I cant really get the manual, and nothing really online for it, im assuming I want to put it on the setting mA and in AC im not really a pro at this.. Lol

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Wednesday, February 25th, 2009 AT 10:46 AM

F4I_GUY

MECHANIC
3,302 POSTS

There will be a seperate plug for the probe wire when you measure amperage. It'll probably say something like (10A fused amperage use).

Once you have the probes in the right place, select mA, remove the negative terminal and place one lead on the terminal and the next lead on the negative terminal on the battery. You should get an amperage reading. Be careful, don't hold the multimeter in this position for too long, cheaper multimeters can fail if too much amperage is going through it.