whats up fellas i haven't been on here for a minute but i have a little problem that is ercking me, i just put in a new alternator and battery because my battery wasn't holding a charge. when i try to crank the lights dim out a little bit. But i don't understand it because i was driving yesterday no problems then all off a sudden i cut the car off when i went to the gas station, when i came back out it was dragging a little but it cranked by the time i got back to work. Ater i turned it off it wouldn't crank back up but as soon as i get a jump it will crank right up what could it be? i replace both wires on the battery, i am lost uzzled:
If you take off one of your battery cables, and put it back on, is there a spark? This is usually a sign that something is drawing power. Also, make sure your brake pedal is adjusted and is not leaving the brake lights on. This will kill a good battery overnight. You may want to take a voltmeter to the battery - should be 12V. Start the car. With the car running, the meter should read about 14.5V. Let us know how you make out.
yes the car stays crunk when you take off one cable, yes i changed the voltage regulator. I changed my positive battery cable last week before i would get a spark when i hooked it up to the battery but i don't get one anymore. Also my parking lights and back lights don't work at night if, but if i turn on the blinker or hit the brakes my back lights come on? HOW would i go abut finding what the problem is? I am not experienced with meesing with wires.
?? ....maybe....it sounds 2 me like your starter might be drawing 2 much....have someone do a starter draw test on your starter...on the car or even take your starter off and some parts stores can check it...usualy for free.... if its not that...get a test light and start checking your fuse panel...for fuses that should'nt have electricity running while the car is off...just in case...if its an electrical short....keep your nose open for any wires burning...or warm/hot 2 the touch.....and if you have done any recent electrical or other work ..recheck that... ..just out of stupidity..check your cigarette lighter see if there r any coins in there rattleing around......it happened 2 me once...
you mentioning cigareete lighter makes me think of this question, is your cigarette lighter suppose to be on when the car is off? When i hooked up my cable to the wire i did get a spark. Should the problem with my lights be in the fuse panel? I know its a stupid question but which fuses should be on still when the car is off thanks
Take a test light and put it between the positive battery post and the postive cable. If it lights, you have a power drain. Take the fuses out one by one and see which one makes the light go out. This test usually works. Some of the culprits are the glove box and trunk light. Had a bad trunk light in a 70 Riviera once that drove me nuts. Would work fine for weeks and then the battery would just go dead overnight. Turned out the trunk light wouldn't always go out went the trunk was closed. When it didn't...........dead battery. Mark
Hey Darius, Welcome to the club! I've dealing with this same issue now, and have been, for several months on my car. You can do a search on my name or look for parasitic drain on battery thread to see what I've tried and what suggestions others have offered. Once this is resolved, I'll post for everyone to know in case in helps someone. OR if the shop finds my problem, you can just trailer your car the 100 miles south on I-75! Anyway, best of luck to you on this tough issue.
what i would do is check the parasitic drain. Just hook an ampmeter between the negative cable and post (cable disconnected). You should have less than 30 mA (.3 A). If you've got more than that. Start pulling fuses until it drops, that will show you what circuit is pullling the power, If you do have a drain.
i appreciate all the answers i am going to use the test light tomorrow and start pulling those fuses i will let you guys know how it goes, oh yeah Evan do you ever come to the atlanta area?I really would like to meet you if you do, i am just starting but i am never getting rid of my BABY:bglasses: , so i am always trying to learn. Aprreciate it am i suppose to put the light on the battery cable without hooking it up to the battery?
[ oh yeah Evan do you ever come to the atlanta area?I really would like to meet you if you do, i am just starting but i am never getting rid of my BABY:bglasses: , so i am always trying to learn. Aprreciate it I get up there fairly often with work meetings as well as picking up my two sons who live on the north side. The GS however doesn't make it up there much due to the issues I've had with it. It (GS) did get there once back in 1999 when my wife and I took it to Columbus to the GS Nats that year. We'll have to hook up and would love to see your car. Mine is going into the shop this Tues to the electrical gurus hopefully for a fix! We'll post an update for you and everyone.
