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battery draining while car is off

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Old Sep 4, 2015 | 02:31 PM
  #1  
markevans999's Avatar
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battery draining while car is off

went to start car and needed a jump. battery was low, not dead. jumped car and drove for about 45 minutes. restarted car no problem. parked car, came back around 3 hours later. battery completely dead, no lights, couldn't even use the keypad.
been having trouble with the rear window. won't stay up. while driving the car that day the window goes down by itself. it won't go back up.
jump the car and drive home. restart the car no problem. next morning battery completely dead. take car to walmart and they give me a new battery for free.
just went to start car this morning and battery completely dead.
made sure nothing was left on.
could the window somehow be draining the battery even when the car is off.
any other suggestions?
Old Sep 4, 2015 | 07:18 PM
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Check your headlight switch. In my Maxima, and another one's in my neighborhood, had a headlight switch issue. When the car is off, there a short that causes the highbeam (for our driver's side) to turn on, although the switch is in low beam.
Put the switch in high beam mode, with the lights in off, before you walk away, could that be your problem?
Old Sep 6, 2015 | 08:57 PM
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Originally Posted by Darkwing48
Check your headlight switch. In my Maxima, and another one's in my neighborhood, had a headlight switch issue. When the car is off, there a short that causes the highbeam (for our driver's side) to turn on, although the switch is in low beam.
Put the switch in high beam mode, with the lights in off, before you walk away, could that be your problem?
Could also be the brake light switch... Check for you rubber grommets and if needed adjust brake switch.

... good indicator it's that, is your brake lights are on with car off and no one in it.
Old Sep 7, 2015 | 03:20 PM
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Harbor Freight sells "short testers" that simply plug into your fuse box. Remove a fuse and plug it in, it will tell you if there is a short/drain on that circuit. They run about $10.
Old Sep 7, 2015 | 03:29 PM
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brake lights was checked. trying the highbeam headlight switch. will try the short tester from harbor freight.
Old Sep 7, 2015 | 03:34 PM
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Just hit me...have you removed the battery to see if it drains on it's own? It could be a bad battery that's just dying after sitting. Very common issue - may not be electric related at all.
Old Sep 10, 2015 | 12:20 PM
  #7  
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yes. removed the battery after charging. battery is fine after 3 days. car starts fine. also, the battery i replaced was only 2 years old and had no problems until the rear window problem.
Old Sep 10, 2015 | 04:29 PM
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The rear window might be your window regulator. Just replace it. I don't think that's your problem because you should have hear your motor moving. Did you check your headlight switch?
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