my battery keeps going dead after the car sits for a week or so..i know it has to be a short or something is on i dont know about...what is a good way to go about finding it? test light somehow? help please...thanks
Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
Another way of finding which circuit is draining your battery - disconnect the battery. Take out a fuse. Touch the battery to the post and see if there is a spark... If there is a spark, then something is "on" and your drain is on a different circuit.
Put that fuse back in and take out fuse number 2. Touch the battery to the post again. Spark? Then keep checking. No spark? Then something in that circuit is draining your battery...
------------------
Charlie McCall
1985 DeTomaso Pantera GT5-S #9375
"Raising Pantera Awareness across Europe"
http://briefcase.yahoo.com/gt5s_1985
Put that fuse back in and take out fuse number 2. Touch the battery to the post again. Spark? Then keep checking. No spark? Then something in that circuit is draining your battery...
------------------
Charlie McCall
1985 DeTomaso Pantera GT5-S #9375
"Raising Pantera Awareness across Europe"
http://briefcase.yahoo.com/gt5s_1985
If the battery went completely dead many times, it probably isn't even any good anymore. I remember someone posting here about a year ago, that something happens to the battery if this occurs, and then all it is good for is a nice heavy door stop.
On the subject of batteries, why do battery recharging manuals state that when charging to a battery that is in the car, you must connect to the + terminal, and then to the - "on the car" and not the - on the battery post. I always do it on the post, what's the diff?
On the subject of batteries, why do battery recharging manuals state that when charging to a battery that is in the car, you must connect to the + terminal, and then to the - "on the car" and not the - on the battery post. I always do it on the post, what's the diff?
The reason they tell you not to connect the negative to the battery when jump starting is to prevent any spark from occuring at the battery which is also why it is extremely dangerous to perform circuit tests by checking for spark at the battery terminals. You just might get a face full of something you don't want! Use a test lead a safe distance from the battery when performing these tests. I am speaking from first hand experience.
------------------
Thunder you must or eat
my dust!
------------------
Thunder you must or eat
my dust!
Try using a voltmeter. With the Battery still connected. Go across the battery with the meter, you should get 12 volts or so. Set the meter so you can watch the needle (a digital meter would be better). Then pull fuses until you see the change on the meter. It will be a very small change but thats all it takes to drain a battery after a week, when you see the movement, put the fuse back in and start following the circuit through the car. It should get you to the trouble spot.