Why does my battery keep dying on me?
03-13-2005, 02:29 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 183
Why does my battery keep dying on me?
The other day I found out that my car's battery loses its charge after sitting for a few hours and I am unable to start it. I had my alternator and battery checked by some guy at autozone and he said they were both fine and that I should just let the car run for a while to recharge the battery. Well, I tried that and sure enough, two hours later the car wont start because the battery is dead again.
I have an amp and a couple subs but I checked the wiring and everything seems fine (the amp is not on when the car is off). I have a manual '95 with 130k miles.
What could be the problem?
I have an amp and a couple subs but I checked the wiring and everything seems fine (the amp is not on when the car is off). I have a manual '95 with 130k miles.
What could be the problem?
03-13-2005, 02:58 PM
#6
Guest
Posts: n/a
what did the guy at autozone test the battery with?....usually if your car wont start its your baterry...if it runs fine and then you shut it off and it wont start later, your battery is bad....its not draining and charging correctly.....look at your baterry terminals...are they clean?...are they corroded?....I dont think you need to even check it....if its not starting numerous times-than theres your problem....you allready checked it yourself.....how old is the battery...know anything about the age....check the terminal condition-let me know whats up?
03-13-2005, 02:58 PM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 994
yea heres a way to check...
if you wanna an easy to way to check your altentor, just start your car and disconnect the battery completely. your car should run fine. then turn on all your electrical equipment. your headlights, brights, wipers, radio, air conditioning on full blast. your car should remaing running without any problem or issue. if it doesnt, or stalls out completely, its a charging problem . while its running, leave all that stuff on, and go look at your headlights. if they seem really dim, more than likely the altentor is on its way out. dont be suprised if your lights dim a lil bit just when the bass hits real hard. if your running a serious system that'll happen even with the battery hooked up and a good altenator. but if lights are real dim, and the car stalls, its definately a charging issue. if its fine :
just buy a new battery and see if your probelm goes away.. keep it for 2 or 3 days. if it doesnt go away, take out your new battery, return it, and just tell em you bought the wrong one.. if your belts are good, and your altenator checked out ok.. most likely its just the battery..
if you wanna an easy to way to check your altentor, just start your car and disconnect the battery completely. your car should run fine. then turn on all your electrical equipment. your headlights, brights, wipers, radio, air conditioning on full blast. your car should remaing running without any problem or issue. if it doesnt, or stalls out completely, its a charging problem . while its running, leave all that stuff on, and go look at your headlights. if they seem really dim, more than likely the altentor is on its way out. dont be suprised if your lights dim a lil bit just when the bass hits real hard. if your running a serious system that'll happen even with the battery hooked up and a good altenator. but if lights are real dim, and the car stalls, its definately a charging issue. if its fine :
just buy a new battery and see if your probelm goes away.. keep it for 2 or 3 days. if it doesnt go away, take out your new battery, return it, and just tell em you bought the wrong one.. if your belts are good, and your altenator checked out ok.. most likely its just the battery..
03-13-2005, 03:33 PM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,207
Get a voltmeter. Hook the + to your battery positive and the - to the battery negative. If the meter reads over 14 volts then your alternator is fine.
Do you have an aftermarket alarm? I've seen alarms that are retarded and light up stupid things like the rear license plate light which drains the battery. Take the main fuse off the alarm and see if this still happens.
Getting a new battery never hurts anyone. Just do it
Do you have an aftermarket alarm? I've seen alarms that are retarded and light up stupid things like the rear license plate light which drains the battery. Take the main fuse off the alarm and see if this still happens.
Getting a new battery never hurts anyone. Just do it
03-13-2005, 03:40 PM
#9
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 183
I just used my multimeter and the battery reads 12.4 volts. I have no aftermarket alarm and the alternator seems to work just fine.
So a bad battery is the only possible thing that could be wrong? Why does it read 12.4 volts if it is bad?
So a bad battery is the only possible thing that could be wrong? Why does it read 12.4 volts if it is bad?
03-13-2005, 03:59 PM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,207
belts? nobody said anything about belts.
But to answer your question, a belt spins your alternator from your crankshaft that makes 14+ volts go to your battery when the engine is running.
If the crankshaft and belt doesnt make 14+ volts go to your battery with the engine running, the alternator is defective.
But to answer your question, a belt spins your alternator from your crankshaft that makes 14+ volts go to your battery when the engine is running.
If the crankshaft and belt doesnt make 14+ volts go to your battery with the engine running, the alternator is defective.
03-13-2005, 04:01 PM
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 994
Originally Posted by bearded
So what do the belts have to do with the battery?
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
My Coffee
New Member Introductions
15
06-06-2017 02:01 PM
bigfrank
4th Generation Maxima (1995-1999)
2
10-01-2015 12:51 PM
maxima297
4th Generation Maxima (1995-1999)
4
09-30-2015 03:32 PM