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    #1

    Frustrating Dead Battery Issue.

    So I bought my E30 a couple weeks back and drove it for a few days until I randomly had a dead battery. I didn't leave anything in the car on so I thought that was weird.

    My friend jumped me and I drove home (about a 15 minute drive) and when I got home, I turned the car off and tried starting it, and the car would turn on up until the starter, then just give up. I searched extensively through this forum and all over the internet and I'm not sure why I can't start it without getting a jump. Everything works and runs fine with the help of a friends car. I went through a horrible experience with electrical problems with my last car (03 Mits Lancer) and it was a costly nightmare.

    I brought the battery to AutoZone for a test, and it came up as a bad one, although it's always dead and the guy said that could be why it's testing bad. How can I know if it's good when it's always dead?

    I tried cleaning the terminals for the battery and drove for 20 minutes to no avail. My good friend lent me his multimeter, although I will admit I'm not sure how to use it. How can I be sure if there's something constantly drawing power or if my alternator is working alright? I don't have the money to go replacing everything.

    I also realized there was a belt missing, but it's not the alternator belt. Now I'm just confused and frustrated. Help? -____-
    Tags: None
    #2
    When the car is off check each of the fuses for current. Once you find the one that's draining your battery you can narrow your search.
    "We praise or find fault, depending on which of the two provides more opportunity for our powers of judgement to shine."

    Comment

      #3
      with car off, voltage across battery is right around 12v. with car running it should jump to just over 14v if alt is working correctly. be sure the charge and exciter wires are hooked up as well as a ground wire from engine block to alt case.

      Comment

        #4
        Before everyone starts jumping to conclusions have you tried a different/new battery?

        those autozone guys are complete asshats...

        Comment

          #5
          Turn the ignition on for a few minutes, then turn it off. Set the meter on the amp setting. Connect one of the meters terminal to the cable terminal and the other to the battery terminal. All in the positive side. Now you disconnect the positive cable from the battery , and the meter is basically set as a jumper wire connecting the positive side. It is important that the meter wires stay connected when removing the battery cable to not lose power to the entire car and to get a correct reading.

          Readings should be no more than 50 mA. If theres more than that you have something draining the battery. You pull fuse by fuse until the reading drops to less than 50mA.
          Originally posted by TimKninja
          Racelands are cheap shit.
          Originally posted by whodwho
          So are r3v members
          Originally posted by Cabriolet
          dude, this is R3v. there's like 40 project threads, and like 20 FS threads and 100 members ride threads of stupid shit. guaranteed laughs on every page. cut springs, rolled cars at 20mph, fishtank heater core, selling broken stuff, painting cars with paint brush, cheap wings, hella-flush and then there is Vlad, king of the eta M3

          Comment

            #6
            Originally posted by 1fastm50 View Post
            Turn the ignition on for a few minutes, then turn it off. Set the meter on the amp setting. Connect one of the meters terminal to the cable terminal and the other to the battery terminal. All in the positive side. Now you disconnect the positive cable from the battery , and the meter is basically set as a jumper wire connecting the positive side. It is important that the meter wires stay connected when removing the battery cable to not lose power to the entire car and to get a correct reading.

            Readings should be no more than 50 mA. If theres more than that you have something draining the battery. You pull fuse by fuse until the reading drops to less than 50mA.
            I tried this and the meter gives me is a big fat 0 as always. I can never seem to get a reading unless it's set on the "V" setting. My battery reads 10 when it's not running. I'm about to swap the battery and see if/when it dies on me.

            Comment

              #7
              Did you switch the meter wires? One is suppoessed to be on the com port and the other on the amp port.
              Originally posted by TimKninja
              Racelands are cheap shit.
              Originally posted by whodwho
              So are r3v members
              Originally posted by Cabriolet
              dude, this is R3v. there's like 40 project threads, and like 20 FS threads and 100 members ride threads of stupid shit. guaranteed laughs on every page. cut springs, rolled cars at 20mph, fishtank heater core, selling broken stuff, painting cars with paint brush, cheap wings, hella-flush and then there is Vlad, king of the eta M3

              Comment

                #8
                Originally posted by 1fastm50 View Post
                Did you switch the meter wires? One is suppoessed to be on the com port and the other on the amp port.
                Yeah I did. I just went and grabbed a new battery. If this one drains too then I'll know I have a draw. The meter go up a couple when I turn the car on so I think the alternator is working

                Comment

                  #9
                  If your not getting a reading from the meter the fuse is probably blown in the meter itself. as for battery voltage i think it should be above 14 volts when its on. Add loads lights blower etc. it should stay the same or around there if the alternator is working.
                  Originally posted by TimKninja
                  Racelands are cheap shit.
                  Originally posted by whodwho
                  So are r3v members
                  Originally posted by Cabriolet
                  dude, this is R3v. there's like 40 project threads, and like 20 FS threads and 100 members ride threads of stupid shit. guaranteed laughs on every page. cut springs, rolled cars at 20mph, fishtank heater core, selling broken stuff, painting cars with paint brush, cheap wings, hella-flush and then there is Vlad, king of the eta M3

                  Comment

                    #10
                    Just an update, it ended up being the battery after all. I bought a brand new one and haven't had an issue since. Thanks for the help everybody!

                    Comment

                      #11
                      Now the new battery is dead. What could be draining it this slowly? It's been a MONTH since I got the battery and I've been driving almost everyday. I'm going crazy.

                      Comment

                        #12
                        Something new

                        Sounds like the car is running on the battery not the alternator. Your alternator may be bad and not charging the system. If you get a reman or new alt, be sure to have a new or fully charged battery before starting the car. Check alt belts for tightness.

                        Comment

                          #13
                          Start the car and see how much voltage your getting, should be around 14v, though high 13's would still be OK anything lower and you need to start looking at your alternator.
                          -Build http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=295277

                          Comment

                            #14
                            So my friend gave me a jump last night, I ran the car until I had a full battery. When the car is off, I get 12v. When I start it, it reads 13 or 14v. Then today, I go outside and there has been no draw at all. Weird.

                            Comment

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