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PKRWUD · 11-29-2004, 09:40 AM

Odds are it's one of three things:

1) One or both battery cables aren't tight enough.

2) A failing generator.

3) A small drain on the system.

I suspect it's number 3. If it was the generator, a jump start wouldn't sufficiently charge the battery enough to last for a few days. The car would have trouble starting the next time you tried.

What I would do if I were you is to get a simple test light, disconnect the negative battery cable from the battery, attach the alligator clip from the test light to the negative cable terminal, and touch the tip of the test probe to the negative post on the battery. Make sure everything in the car is turned off, and that the doors are closed. If the test light lights up at all, you have a drain on the battery somewhere. The next step is to have a friend hold the test light to the battery post, watching the light, while you remove the fuses one by one until the test light goes out. When that happens, you will know which circuit the short is in, and you can start looking for it. Make sure that the doors are closed when ever you do this, including when you pull the fuses. If a door is open, the dome light will create a drain, and light up the test light, giving you false results.

Take care,
~Chris

11-29-2004, 09:40 AM	#3
PKRWUD Junior Member Join Date: Mar 1999 Location: Ventura, California Posts: 8,981	Re: i think its a generator issue Odds are it's one of three things: 1) One or both battery cables aren't tight enough. 2) A failing generator. 3) A small drain on the system. I suspect it's number 3. If it was the generator, a jump start wouldn't sufficiently charge the battery enough to last for a few days. The car would have trouble starting the next time you tried. What I would do if I were you is to get a simple test light, disconnect the negative battery cable from the battery, attach the alligator clip from the test light to the negative cable terminal, and touch the tip of the test probe to the negative post on the battery. Make sure everything in the car is turned off, and that the doors are closed. If the test light lights up at all, you have a drain on the battery somewhere. The next step is to have a friend hold the test light to the battery post, watching the light, while you remove the fuses one by one until the test light goes out. When that happens, you will know which circuit the short is in, and you can start looking for it. Make sure that the doors are closed when ever you do this, including when you pull the fuses. If a door is open, the dome light will create a drain, and light up the test light, giving you false results. Take care, ~Chris __________________ Webmaster: Rice Haters Club Jim Porter Racing Peckerwoods Pit Stop Support Your Local RED & WHITE!