1985 Mercury Cougar Battery problem?

Tiny
LILJDGMAN08
  • MEMBER
  • 1985 MERCURY COUGAR
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 160,000 MILES
I have a 1985 mercury cougar, I bought it about a month ago, and its been running fine. All of a sudden one morning I go to start it and it wont start, it just makes this loud clicking sound. So I got a jump and it was fine, until I turned it off. After the jump if I turn it off for twenty minutes or so it will run again, but if I wait an hour I notice it will just start clicking again. I went to autozone and had a free testing and it said the battery was dead, so they charged it and it came out fine. So I put the battery back in and it ran fine for a day, then when I get up to go to work in the morning, I went to cut it on and it sounded like the car was having a hard time staying running. It ran for about 5 minutes while warming up, then the lights dim and radio cuts off, so I turn the car off and tried to start it back up and thats when it started clicking again. Is their something draining the battery or a possible shortage anywhere? Your help will be gratly appreciated.
Monday, October 27th, 2008 AT 3:58 AM

3 Replies

Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Hi liljdgman08 and welcome to 2carpros

Get the alternator load tested find out if its producing the correct output-if it checks out-Get it check for an excessive parastic draw-could be a short circuit within the electrical system-


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/12900_parastic_draw_1_39.jpg

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Monday, October 27th, 2008 AT 4:05 AM
Tiny
LILJDGMAN08
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
I have a multimeter, I believe I ajusted it right, I tried it out, but it really isnt reading anything. It keeps coming up numbers like, 1.56 etc, low numbers, am I doing something wrong? When I disconnect the negative battery cable from its post, where do I put the red and black cables on the multimeter at? Please help me. Also when I get it jumped now, if I turn it off at all ther battery just dies on me right away.
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Monday, October 27th, 2008 AT 3:36 PM
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Put the meter on the DC 20 scale

The DVOM black lead goes to the disconnected negative cable- the positive battery cable remains connected-if there's a short the meter will read battery voltage-Now start removing fuses one at a time-when the reading drops to zero-this is where the trouble circuit is-
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Monday, October 27th, 2008 AT 3:42 PM

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