Electrical Short (battery dies)

[michael]

Suppose you have a mechanicaly perfect SVX. If you put a test light between the negative terminal on the battery and ground will it light up? I've had this problem for a while and would like to get it fixed. I pulled every fuse and relay with no change. The light seems to pulse a little bit so I was leaning towards something that pulses when the car is off, like like the security light? Could someone who has a perfectly working SVX check this out for me? I don't see how it could show no voltage as the ECU needs to hold memory as well as the clock and radio. Mabey my alternator just doesn't charge the battery.

[ensteele]

Is your security system on? Remember that these cars with a good battery will drain one in only a couple weeks if that. They eat batteries unless you drive them daily or you have a conditioner on them.

[michael]

I drove it this summer for a few months and I had to disconnect the battery every night. In the morning it would barely start very slow cranking. It's away for the winter now. BTW it's a new battery and the alt. is only a few years old. Also I never use the pass side sun visor so I doubt it's that, even if it were pulling the fuses should have put a stop to it. How can you permanently turn off the security system? It seems like the button is a momentary switch every time the battery is dis/re-connected it resets the security system. Happy New Year! too

[dannmarr]

If you have a multi meter, set it to DC Voltage and check;
(1) Battery neutral to engine ground= No Voltage.
Set the multi meter to continuity, disconnect the battery terminals and check the cables (not the battery!)
(2) Check neutral wire to engine ground= continuity.
(3) Check positive wire to engine ground= no continuity.(If you have continuity then you have a short somewhere.)
I installed a solar battery charger to my car, it supposed to keep the battery charged in case of a voltage drop. You can pick one up at Pep Boys.

[ensteele]

Have you noticed a clicking from the trunk area of the car? Are your auto seatbelts working ok? I know that when the seatbelt computer goes out or part way out that it will drain the battery over night and gives off a pulse sound and that might explain why it is a pulse on the electrical system. Good luck.

[michael]

Originally Posted by ensteele

Have you noticed a clicking from the trunk area of the car? Are your auto seatbelts working ok? I know that when the seatbelt computer goes out or part way out that it will drain the battery over night and gives off a pulse sound and that might explain why it is a pulse on the electrical system. Good luck.

There is no clicking but the seatbelts do not work properly. I'll try unpluging that tomorrow along with what dannmarr said.

[ensteele]

Try unplugging it and see if the battery goes dead. If not, that is probably it.

[immortal_suby]

Originally Posted by ensteele

Is your security system on? Remember that these cars with a good battery will drain one in only a couple weeks if that. They eat batteries unless you drive them daily or you have a conditioner on them.

I sold my dad the wife's svx and he says the battery keeps dieing but he only drives it once a month or so and the battery holds a charge after driving. I thought the battery was going and told him to buy a new battery.

Guess I'll tell him not to bother with a new battery. I didn't know the security system drew that much. Thanks for the info! I'll have to get him battery minder instead. (he refuses to shut off the security system)

[ensteele]

If I don't keep a conditioner on mine, they would not last a month befoe they were dead. If you need information on them, let me know.