Anybody ever have a draw in their electrical system?

[Redlyne_mr2]

Got an issue with my ae86 where it wont hold a charge. I pulled the alternator and had it tested at partsource the guy there said it was ok. Then I tested it in the car with it running. I registered 13 or so volts and 15 while revving. I charged the battery for a few minutes while playing around with my alternator tried to start the car and didnt have enough juice so I boosted it with a buds car. The power seemed ok for a while the lights were all bright, windshield wipers were fast etc. I decided to take it for a drive i took it for a 40 min drive got home and turned off the car. Decided to crank it to see if all was well, it wouldnt fire up. What confuses me is that the battery is obviously taking some charge otherwise it wouldnt have started the car it would have just stayed dead. The alternator seems ok too but I have a feeling either the battery is really messed up or theyres a draw in the system due to a crappy alternator. Anybody ever have a situation like this? Any help is appreciated thanks

[illeagle]

time for a new battery..

I had the same problem with my Oldsmobile.. I can jump start it, and it would run fine, but after turning it off, it won't start up on it's own..won't even click, and charging diden't work..I Got a new battery, and it fixed my problem....

[Redlyne_mr2]

Originally posted by illeagle
time for a new battery..

Thats what I thought too but it's taking a charge from a battery charger just not from the alternator. I hate electrical problems

[illeagle]

:edit: After charging the battery, you only get 1 or 2 starts from it, then its dead? That too was one problem i had..


well if your battery is ok and your alt. is ok, maybe it's loose terminals, bad gound, loose harness, mistakingly installed a part made by ford, i'm not sure.. good luck

[hendosa]

Hey I like Ford.... Whats wrong with Ford?

[illeagle]

i was kidding.. I own a ford..

[Zero102]

When it won't start, will other things like interior lights/stereo work?

It sounds like loose/dirty battery connections to me.

Although, it could be the battery.
Best way to test it, is unhook it, put it on a charger for a couple hours, then have it load tested.

[Redlyne_mr2]

Originally posted by Zero102
When it won't start, will other things like interior lights/stereo work?

It sounds like loose/dirty battery connections to me.

Although, it could be the battery.
Best way to test it, is unhook it, put it on a charger for a couple hours, then have it load tested.

Well the interior accesories will become dimmer and dimmer the more i try to start it. I also boosted the car and let it run and it ran until it died so what confuses me is why do the numbers on the voltmeter seem normal and yet the battery isnt accepting a charge from the alternator. Cycloneawd suggested it occures once the alternator heats up and then the drain begins which would make sense

[EK 2.0]

Not the alternator itself but the voltage regulator Ryan...Geez lol...

[Redlyne_mr2]

Originally posted by CycloneAWD
Not the alternator itself but the voltage regulator Ryan...Geez lol...

Which is in the alternator:tongue:

[A_3]

I'm 90% sure it's your battery, i had the exact same thing happen to me around christmas time. It was a newer battery, 4-5 months so we pulled everything related to it out of the car, put in all new wires and connections becuase we thought the charge wasn't getting through. But everytime you would charge it... it might work for a day-2 days then it wouldn't have the power to start the car, just sit there clicking. Anyways finally after 2 weeks of this got pissed off and took it into a specialist turns out my new battery was a faulty one and all i needed was a new one, no problems since. The stupid thing cost me alot of money though, had to get her towed after new years

[kevie88]

It really does sound like a bagged out Battery, Ry.. Can you pull one from another car to try for a while?

Most parts places can repeatedly load-test your battery to see how it holds up to multiple draws..

[Redlyne_mr2]

Originally posted by kevie88
It really does sound like a bagged out Battery, Ry.. Can you pull one from another car to try for a while?

Most parts places can repeatedly load-test your battery to see how it holds up to multiple draws..

Yeah I tried a battery from my buds car, started up fine but i only ran it for 5 or so minutes. used the voltmeter to test it..about 14 or so volts so that was ok. Ill go get the battery exchanged tomorrow and let you guys know what it is

[RickDaTuner]

try looking for any positive wires that are really close to the block, some time they will arc and drain the battery, this is ofcourse if you dont resolve the problem by changing the battery