This is really a TOAD problem but maybe someone here can shed some light on what is going on.
TOAD is a 97 Saturn SL2, used very seldom. Failed to start, totally dead, no lights, horn or starter click. New battery at the the GV in Texas last year. Charged battery and after 3 to 5 days without use battery registers 11.5 /12.0 volts. Load tested , no indication of bad cells or posts ( side post ). Pulled off NEG cable, absolutely NO drain between cable and battery.
Indications are that something is draining battery when car not being used. No drain, no lights, radio etc on. Alternator shows 13.7 to 14.0 volts while running.
This is third time I have had this same problem beginning at GV in TX last year.
I am at a loss, any suggestions ?
Thanks
Gary B
Any chance of a hidden light being on or stuck on due to a bad switch (glove box, trunk, etc.)?
Michelle, I have looked everywhere for something that would cause a drain. No drain will register on a VOM so I don't know what is going on.. I even pulled the bulbs out of the Glove box, under hood lite and trunk lite just to see if any difference.
I am beginning to lean towards a defective battery, how I don't know tho.
Gary B
Gary,
It would sound like something is occasionally sticking. There has to be a drain occasionally and it should show between the terminal and the post. One time I had a brake light switch that would stick from time to time and drain the battery.
Just a thought.
How old is the battery?
Tom, Battery is a year old, Load tests good.
Jerry, Next time it does it I will take a good look at everything again. Ignition switch at times will not release key but key is not on or left in ignition so I don't think its an ignition switch.
Gary B
With a fully charged battery if you pull a lead what 4-5 days and check battery that should tell you if it's the battery or the car. You may have what is called a soft short internal of the battery, that takes days to run it down.Gam
Forty years ago, I had a car with a similar problem. The mechanic found the brake light switch was hot to the touch. An internal leakige was enough to drain the battery but not enough to visibly light the brake lights. Letting it sit with the battery disconnected will tell if the cause is with the battery or elsewhere.
A few things can add to the confusion, like a clock, radio memory, a memory device, under hood light, even moisture/dirt on top of the battery will drain 60-150ma.
Cheers
Gary,
Does yours have the heater in the windshield washer fluid tank? If so check the thermostat that turns the heater on. After they age they don't work so good (like some of us) and come on at any time thus draining the battery. If this happens it leaves no trace so it's hard to find.
They have also had a problem with the ignition switch that bleeds voltage through it even though it is turned off.
Just a couple of thoughts hope you get back going.
Pamela & Mike
Also don't overlook the computer, some of them pull a surprising amount of amperage and they are never turned off.
Regarding your battery issues I would suggest:
12 volt battery that registers 12V on digital volt meter is dead. Fully charged is 12.6 (1.2 v per cell). Battery should be load tested at half the cold cranking amps (CCA), when charged, battery needs to hold above 9.5 volts for 15 second to pass load test. For example, a 600 a CCA battery should be load tested to 300 amps. Try charging the battery overnight (12 hours) with 2 amp charge. Make sure battery plates are submerged in electrolyte before charging. If possible check each cell with hydrometer, fully charged is 1260 each cell, any variations of more that 30 points, battery is bad. If you can't access the electrolyte, use digital volt meter to monitor charging. When battery voltage reach's 14.50/15.00 v while charging, battery is charged. let battery set for 12 hours. Carbon pile load testers are the gold standard for testing so use one if you can. This info is not applicable for AGM or Gell cell batteries.
Hope this is helpful.
RC
It looks like I have eliminated the battery as cause of battery drain. Charged it, two days now hooked up and no drain. Next will be to drive it and see if drain happens after I park it again.
Gary B