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What is draining my battery.

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Old 08-22-2011 | 07:10 AM
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Default What is draining my battery.

Thought my battery had gone bad...replaced it and fixed my problem...until this morning. I just installed a new indash cd player...about 5 days after the install is when my old battery died. Replaced it with a brand new one and less than a week later the new one is dead. I am 90% sure its not the starter cause when it has power it will start fine. Don't really know the symptoms other than a dead battery from having a bad alternator. Just had a new serp belt put on. The wiring from the cd player went pretty smooth..I did have to cut each wire from the odd aftermarket clip that was already there..clipped each wire stripped it and twisted it to the corresponding wire on the new harness then covered each in electrical tape. Note: the cd player is powered directly to the battery..it doesn't shut off when the ignition is off..I always remove my face plate to help it consume less energy...however my old indash was wired the same way...to the battery..could the new indash be killing the battery this much? I've checked my ground from my battery it's clean..I no longer have my hellas wired up so it can't be them..honestly before my new stereo I had no problems..so I don't think it's the alternator...help would be terrific. Thanks all
Old 08-22-2011 | 07:24 AM
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mine is doing the same thing. 2 month old battery this morning it is 4.8v. 3 days ago it started no problem. everything is off. all switches are off. interested to see what others have to say.
Old 08-22-2011 | 07:38 AM
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I haven't tested to see if there is a drain in the battery but im guessing that the new stereo even with the faceplate off is having a significant drain on the battery.
Old 08-22-2011 | 07:51 AM
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You'll have to see if you have a slow darin-this can be done at the battery with a common electrical tester.
Old 08-22-2011 | 07:52 AM
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Old 08-22-2011 | 07:52 AM
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Originally Posted by Xj88
I haven't tested to see if there is a drain in the battery but im guessing that the new stereo even with the faceplate off is having a significant drain on the battery.

Not trying to insult you but did you make sure your connection was correct. By that I mean constant and switched aren't mixed? Check that first. If you have a feeling the alternator is going bad I think Autozone has a free check up for alternators
Old 08-22-2011 | 07:53 AM
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Even without testing there almost definitely is a drain...im just curious..could the new indash really drain it that much more than the old one?
Old 08-22-2011 | 07:54 AM
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http://www.ehow.com/how_2249402_find...ery-drain.html
Old 08-22-2011 | 08:06 AM
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Ill buy a tester...still wanting opinions on if the new indash could cause that much more of a drain then the old
Old 08-22-2011 | 08:31 AM
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Originally Posted by Xj88
Ill buy a tester...still wanting opinions on if the new indash could cause that much more of a drain then the old

All u need is a very small amperage drain and your bat will be toast in a few days. Was it doing it before the console change ? If not that is where your problem lies. You'll keep pulling fuses till the meter tells you its not draining anymore. We used to use a test light on the battery and the bulb would barely light BUT the bat was dead non the less the next day.
Old 08-22-2011 | 08:41 AM
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My wife has a bad habit of stuffing the glove box full of crap until you can barely shut it. Just that little glove box light being on, from the door not closing all the way, killed the battery in about four days.

Check the glove box light first, cuz I know you put the manual for the new stereo in there, didn't ya? If that's not it, then put an ammeter in series with the negative battery cable and check the draw. Start pulling fuses until the draw goes away so you can narrow it down to a particular circuit.
Old 08-22-2011 | 08:43 AM
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Make sure your radio doesn't have an exposed wire that's shorting out cause I know with with after market radios there are left over wires.
Old 08-22-2011 | 08:46 AM
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Im thinking I crossed up the constant power wire....just asked a car audio specialists..he said it almost had to do with the conclstsnt power wire
Old 08-22-2011 | 08:54 AM
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Originally Posted by Xj88
Im thinking I crossed up the constant power wire....just asked a car audio specialists..he said it almost had to do with the conclstsnt power wire
most likely that can be the problem. i did this once and when my faceplate was on and the key was off the radio still worked and the lights were still on lol
Old 08-22-2011 | 08:57 AM
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Same here...how do you fix it?


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