1997 Chevrolet Monte Carlo battery running down

TIM DAMRON

MEMBER
1997 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO
3.4L
RWD
AUTOMATIC
9,700 MILES

It has a new alternator but every 2-3 days maybe 4 days the battery will go dead did not start this till we replaced the alternator we have took out the fuse to the radio so we know the radio is not running the battery down you can boost the car off it will run for a few days then again the battery goes

4 Replies

WRENCHTECH

MECHANIC
20,758 POSTS

The first thing you have to do is test the charging system and make sure it is still working. If it is charging properly, then you have to test for a parasitic draw on the battery.

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.