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My battery is always dead!!!

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Old Aug 30, 2011 | 11:22 AM
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Default My battery is always dead!!!

Every morning i have to charge my battery on my car for it to even start. usually if i was to take it to work its almost dead again after a 8 hour day and i get one last start out of it. The altenator has to be good because if i jump the car i have no issues at all has im driving the car and I have just replaced the battery to see if that was the issue and it wasnt. Any idea of what I should look into to solve this issue?
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Old Aug 30, 2011 | 11:47 AM
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you have a draw somewhere, check all connections and loose ground straps. also look for burnt or corroded wires. you can test it with a multimeter cant remember what setting .
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Old Aug 30, 2011 | 11:55 AM
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im horrible with electronics. so a loose ground on engine somewhere could cause this?
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Old Aug 30, 2011 | 02:38 PM
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Is it a brand new battery? If not, take it somewhere for a free load test. If you have a digital volt meter check the voltage while off/engine running.
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Old Aug 30, 2011 | 03:54 PM
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ok thanks, will check that yeah its new
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Old Aug 30, 2011 | 04:32 PM
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Ya check the voltage on your battery with the car off. Should be 12-13volts. Keep the multimeter on the battery and start it, shouldn't go below 10volts. once started it should stay above 14V. That will tell you the alternator is working.

I would guess, you probably just need to change the battery out.
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Old Aug 30, 2011 | 05:12 PM
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i will check, its just the battery is too new imo.. i hope that is the issue though
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Old Aug 30, 2011 | 07:03 PM
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Charge the battery up. Take off the negative cable and put a test light between the negative cable and the battery. You might have to have someone help you with this.

Because the test light will be inline of the cable/battery the light will be on. If you have a drain somewhere it will be kinda bright, its hard to explain how bright, start pulling one fuse at a time. When you pull a fuse and the light gets dimmer that's the circuit your drain is on. This will help you narrow down where the drain is. After that check whatever is on that circuit and get a wiring diagram if need. Glove box light is a common one.

Even with no drain the PCM draws power all the time and the light will be very dim.

Hope this helps.
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