Battery dead - Resolved 6/23/19

[juan214]

Battery dead after vehicles sit for a day or two. Jumps and runs fine, restarts fine then dead again after a day or two Battery is 45 days old or so. Put in a charged (backup) battery with a 12v plus charge. Did a parasitic test on vehicle. Disconnected the negative battery cable. Ran meter in series and set it on mA Base reading is steady at 04.63 mA. Remove each under hood and fuse box fuse and no change (even relays).

After 30 minutes sitting readings remained the same:
battery (backup) voltage at 12.08V
mA at 04.63
Alternator charging at 13.68V
Vehicle Battery 9.56V GAINED 1.52V while sitting disconnected for an hour while testing vehicle.

Any test or suggestions will be appreciated

Additional Notes:
Replaced the rebuilt one it had when purchased, it failed.
Replaced rebuilt alternator under warranty, it failed within a week or two.
Replacement rebuilt alternator installed
Alternator: currently charging @ 13.68V

Battery: current charge 8.04V
Replaced the one it had when purchased, it failed.
Replaced with used battery, it failed within warranty.
Replaced with used battery, it failed outside of warranty.
Replaced with new battery (12/18), it failed within warranty.
Replaced with new battery (5/19), current charge 8.04V.
Replacement installed

Starter: never change by us.

Not my truck...

 

[stamp11127]

The one circuit that isn't protected by fuses is the alternator and it's output cable. If a diode shorts closed it will pull a battery down quickly.

Do the draw test again with the output cable disconnected.

Most mA draw should be in the 200-300 range with all the black boxes on vehicles today. Your reading is too low or the range changed and was missed. A 4 amp draw will pull a battery down rather quickly..

Forget the starter as your problem - it should only complete the circuit when the ignition key is turned to start.

 

[juan214]

Hey Rich,
Thanks for the reply. Happy Fathers day and give the pups a treat.

I thank you and everyone else on here as usual for all the help in advance. I give back when I can.

Auto electrical kills me, miss the old days. I let my son take the vehicle to work so there will be a delay in follow up.

1. Did i do the tests wrong?
2. The output cable is the charge cable at alternator correct?

When I do the draw test again with the output cable disconnected at alternator I'm doing the same test I complete above only with the cable disconnected at alternator to see if the reading at the battery changes?

 

[stamp11127]

Really can't say you did the tests wrong without seeing the meter display. The 4.63 mA is extremely low reading for today's vehicle but 463 mA is slightly less than 1/2 A. The test is the same as before, just not pulling fuses. Let the vehicle sit without turning anything on for about 15 minutes once you are set up. This will allow any modules to enter sleep mode and reduce power draw.

The alternator output cable is the single red cable that should have a rubber cover protecting it. Disconnect it once the battery has been disconnected to install the meter. Make sure it doesn't touch anything metal or things will get interesting quickly.

Hope you told him to disconnect the battery once he gets to work. If not you are deep cycling the battery - not good unless it is a deep cycle battery.

 

[stamp11127]

I looked back over your readings in the first post.

Recommendation - don't try to start the engine if battery voltage falls below 11.0 volts. The starter is a constant draw motor that will pull any combination of voltage/amps needed to operate. That means as voltage drops amp draw increases which kills solenoids and batteries. It may even take out the motor brushes over time due to heat damage.

 

[juan214]

I'm bored and do not want to work on my truck. I'm going to drive to his job a get a couple of readings. See if my battery charged up, lost voltage and a draw test to double check the mAs.

I figured it was the charge cable you were talking about. Everyone likes fireworks it almost that time of year.

i gave him a 10 mm ratcheting open end wrench, I know he never disconnects if the battery ends up dead. If does connect it it's never tight. He leaves the headlights on all the time because the auto shut off. I keep telling him shut them off until we figure what is wrong with the charging system. Every time its dead they were on they only stay on for a few minutes but every volt counts when he's stuck somewhere. My battery is in and had 12.08 volts.

Thanks

 

[Plati]

You know for sure you don't have the rear wiper problem, right?

 

[stamp11127]

Leave your son stuck at work for another 8 hours and he will learn the hard way to turn off the electrical loads.

Reminds me of when my son had to sit in the kiddie seat. He loved pushing the seat belt button which caused me to pull over and restrap the seat. One morning running late for dropping the 3 kids off at the daycare I hear the seat belt retract again. I told his sisters the next time he does that to hold on because we are going to stop quickly.
Not 5 minutes go by and snap. We were going about 45mph and I jump on the brakes, he is sitting in the middle of the back seat which pivots forward so that now he is looking down at the emergency brake handle between the two front seats.
"Darn Christopher, haven't I told you to quit releasing that seat belt...." After what seemed like forever to him, hanging there stuck in his seat & being lectured, I put him back and re-strapped the seat belt. He sure was a little red in the face afterwards. That ended the releasing the seat belt.

Millennials - can't be taught by talking to them, they have to experience it in order to learn it.

 

[juan214]

I looked back over your readings in the first post.

Recommendation - don't try to start the engine if battery voltage falls below 11.0 volts. The starter is a constant draw motor that will pull any combination of voltage/amps needed to operate. That means as voltage drops amp draw increases which kills solenoids and batteries. It may even take out the motor brushes over time due to heat damage.

Minute changes
Battery held its charge (+01)
mAs dropped to 4.54 (-.09)

 

[juan214]

You know for sure you don't have the rear wiper problem, right?

Wiper problem not sure I believe they work fine. What are we looking for?

 

[juan214]

Leave your son stuck at work for another 8 hours and he will learn the hard way to turn off the electrical loads.

Reminds me of when my son had to sit in the kiddie seat. He loved pushing the seat belt button which caused me to pull over and restrap the seat. One morning running late for dropping the 3 kids off at the daycare I hear the seat belt retract again. I told his sisters the next time he does that to hold on because we are going to stop quickly.
Not 5 minutes go by and snap. We were going about 45mph and I jump on the brakes, he is sitting in the middle of the back seat which pivots forward so that now he is looking down at the emergency brake handle between the two front seats.
"Darn Christopher, haven't I told you to quit releasing that seat belt...." After what seemed like forever to him, hanging there stuck in his seat & being lectured, I put him back and re-strapped the seat belt. He sure was a little red in the face afterwards. That ended the releasing the seat belt.

Millennials - can't be taught by talking to them, they have to experience it in order to learn it.

Man that brings back memories.

Its a Millennial boy thing, all my boys and nephews learned how to kiss the back of the bench off the old Chevy Impala. Hilarious when they kissed the back of the bench seat and snap back into the back bench like a pinball. Had to hold it in when wifey ******* about slamming the brakes on. Today all the kids (adults now) wear their seat belt guess a good safety lesson learned early. Me I always forget to put mine on lesson never learn from days when we were not required by a seat belt law to buckle up.

 

[stamp11127]

I looked st the manual for your meter. Right now the accuracy of the mA reading is suspect.

"AUTO RANGE: The meter automatically finds the proper range for voltage and resistance measurements. All other functions are manualy ranged."
Either the manual is wrong or the meter is wrong. Your pic shows Auto in the display.

As a test, connect the meter back up and push the range button on the meter. You may see a slight change in the display units. Possibly the bar graph will show up. You may have to cycle the button a few times.

Your current reading says that the draw is just over 4 thousandths of an amp when it should be 200 to 300 thousandths of an amp. It would take months to pull a battery down at that rate.

 

[Plati]

When you have the rear wiper problem, the draw alternates between a few hundred milliamps and ~8 amps every 40 seconds or so. It would be a long shot if that was this problem so just an example. Could be the CD problem or many others …

Thorough (on site) diagnosis/troubleshooting should find it.


the guy in this video made this fix about 10 times more effort than needed
and he didn't have to spend any money, grease is a free fix

 

[rjdelp7]

A 'stuck'/jammed CD may kill a battery. It has constant +power.

 

[juan214]

A 'stuck'/jammed CD may kill a battery. It has constant +power.

no cd player, thanks

 

[juan214]

When you have the rear wiper problem, the draw alternates between a few hundred milliamps and ~8 amps every 40 seconds or so. It would be a long shot if that was this problem so just an example. Could be the CD problem or many others …

Thorough (on site) diagnosis/troubleshooting should find it.


the guy in this video made this fix about 10 times more effort than needed
and he didn't have to spend any money, grease is a free fix

good info not the issue, thanks

 

[juan214]

Sunday Morning

 

[juan214]

Monday morning....
12.02v
750 cca battery
650 cca as tested

amps unknown think the meter crapped out on me.

 

[stamp11127]

Is the latest battery reading with the alternator cable disconnected?

Meter should have fuse protection on the amps setting. You'll know once the back cover is off.

 

[juan214]

Is the latest battery reading with the alternator cable disconnected?

Meter should have fuse protection on the amps setting. You'll know once the back cover is off.

UPDATED:
The alternator was not disconnected. The reading were not showing on the meter.

I know, took it apart there two ceramic fuses in it. Printed on one it said 500mA 250V the other ws 10A 250V. No one in the area has them. So I went to home depot they had the glass version, those didn't make a difference. Guess I have to take a ride at one point between jobs. Eighty dollar meter, five dollar parts, Hour and a half ride go figure.

So the Craftsman meter issue was I bought it from Sears (LOL). I called the closest store they blow. I was told that electrical items have no warranty. I asked where to get it serviced. "I don't know call the 800 number and ask them". I ended up doing a google search of the image and its a re-branded Extech meter. Overpaid by $50 for the craftsman meter.

Called Extech directly great tech support service. I told the tech what was up he gave me the specs I needed. The meter has two fuses in it so I asked which one goes where. Info was not available due to proprietary reasons. He said just follow the circuit board. I finally found the ceramic fuses drove and picked them up. They even had a hard time locating what I needed in the store. I left went home took the meter apart followed the board as told. Unbelievable the board had the specs printed on it. The specs given to me were wrong on top of that the store gave me one of the fuse in the wrong size anyway. Back to the store again (another 1 1/2 hour drive). Naturally back to square one of the fuses was not available in ceramic fast acting ended with glass ones. The sales guy said the difference is the temperature range of the fuse. Got home took the meter apart installed them finally up and running again. Readings are to follow.

No, I am planning on doing the Alt test this Sunday when I take the truck away from him.

The truck started on day three. Day four it was dead at 7.68 volts jumped it started right up. Today my son expected it to be dead but it started right up today. Here are the readings tonight after he got home a few hours earlier. I'll take reading in the morning.

BATTERY VOLTAGE (FULL CHARGE / NOT SHOWING LOW)

CCA (LOOKS GOOD)

mA (auto ranging off)

A (auto ranging off)