New battery, but completely dead
 

So last week I proactively installed a new battery after my power steering/alternator belt broke.
Well later in the week, my door locks stopped working from inside...I'm thinking door lock timer gone bad? Needless to say I didn't check it, but let the car sit for 2 days without driving it. This morning the car completely dead, won't even crank.
Can someone tell me how to check for an electrical drain somewhere in the car? I wouldn't think it's the battery but not sure.

Thanks

Re: New battery, but completely dead
 

Even a new battery can be almost fully discharged when installed. First thing would be to charge it fully and see if it again discharges within a couple of days.

dcb

Re: New battery, but completely dead
 

1. Fully charge the battery, make sure EVERYTHING in car is turned off.

2. Let battery sit for a few hours disconnected, then measure voltage of battery with multimeter.

3. Install battery, and connect battery cables. Measure voltage again, if it is more than 1/6 volt lower connected, you have a parasitic draw.

4. Now you can eliminate each individual circuit by pulling the fuse and seeing if it kicks the voltage back to baseline.

Re: New battery, but completely dead
 

I know I drove the car for a few days after the new battery and let sit for at least one day and took my truck. Car was fine last week. I will charge it and follow your instructions as listed.
Thanks guys

Re: New battery, but completely dead
 

Checked the battery disconnected and it read 4.5vdc...charging it overnight, will check in the morning, let it sit disconnected and see if it loses charge again.

Re: New battery, but completely dead
 

Almost sounds like the new battery is a "bad" new battery...

Keith:cool:

Re: New battery, but completely dead
 

Ok does this sound like a parasitic drain so far with my numbers?

6:00am - 13.38volts
6:30am - 13.32
11:30am - 13.24
6:00pm - 13.20
8:00pm - 13.12

How long should I wait to take this battery back to the store if it is indeed bad? I was going to test numbers tomorrow all day as well.

Re: New battery, but completely dead
 

How long after the battery was charged did you take your first reading?

Re: New battery, but completely dead
 

within 20 seconds was my first reading.

Re: New battery, but completely dead
 

ok another question....is it required we need to use the negative battery cable ground wire with the stripe? I have done the alternator mod a few years ago and have the thicker negative cable going to the frame and engine, but the screw that mounted the cable(s) to the frame snapped before I could take it out. I'm wondering if I can use my thicker cable and mount it to the horn mounting screw.

Re: New battery, but completely dead
 

I would probably re-drill and put a bolt back in the frame...

Keith:cool:

Re: New battery, but completely dead
 

Ok thats normal for the voltage to drop, chargers run at higher voltage to "pump" the current in.

So over the time monitored, it was connected in the car yes?

Re: New battery, but completely dead
 

no it's been disconnected from the car the whole time after I charged it. I have taken it with me and my multimeter to periodically check it during the day.

Re: New battery, but completely dead
 

Ok I'm scratching my head on this one..since the screw snapped at the flange, what size/type of screw and size hole to drill in the frame? I thought they were self tapping screws from memory.....

Re: New battery, but completely dead
 

The self-tapping screw might need a little help:lol:

Keith:cool: