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Topic: Battery Drain (Read 800 times) previous topic - next topic

Battery Drain

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

Re: Battery Drain

Reply #1 –
Any chance of a hidden light being on or stuck on due to a bad switch (glove box, trunk, etc.)? 
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Battery Drain

Reply #2 –
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

Re: Battery Drain

Reply #3 –
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.
Jerry & Nanci
1999 U270 34'WTFI
2011 Malibu
A smart man knows what to say, a wise man knows when to say it.

Re: Battery Drain

Reply #4 –
How old is the battery?
Tom Lang K6PG (originally  KC6UEC)
and Diane Lang
2003 38 U295 build 6209
2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Ecodiesel
still have tow-ready 2006 Acura MDX 
Temple City, California
Motorcade 16681 California Chapter President
SKP 16663 member of SKP Park of the Sierra, Coarsegold California
FMCA F071251
Retired electrical and electronic engineer

Re: Battery Drain

Reply #5 –
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

Re: Battery Drain

Reply #6 –
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
joseph gambaro
1999 U295 36'

Re: Battery Drain

Reply #7 –
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.
Tom Lang K6PG (originally  KC6UEC)
and Diane Lang
2003 38 U295 build 6209
2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Ecodiesel
still have tow-ready 2006 Acura MDX 
Temple City, California
Motorcade 16681 California Chapter President
SKP 16663 member of SKP Park of the Sierra, Coarsegold California
FMCA F071251
Retired electrical and electronic engineer

Re: Battery Drain

Reply #8 –
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

Re: Battery Drain

Reply #9 –
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
Pamela & Mike 97 U 320

"It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters."

Re: Battery Drain

Reply #10 –
Also don't overlook the computer, some of them pull a surprising amount of amperage and they are never turned off. 
"Not so  long ago we were a nation of risk takers, riding five million pounds of  thrust straight into space."  Joe Gresh
Chuck Pearson
1996 U295
2018 Can Am X3 TurboRS

Re: Battery Drain

Reply #11 –
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
 

Re: Battery Drain

Reply #12 –
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