My car keeps killing batteries! - TriStateTuners.com :: Home of Tristate Auto Enthusiast

2slowMX5 · 10-18-2008, 12:30 AM

Within the last month I replaced my 2yr old Optima yellow top. I replaced it with a Bosch battery from pepboys (they no longer carry the optima that fits my car, its tiny). Well that lasted a week before it died. The guys there hooked it to a machine and it was shot. Soo I got another one.

Well I left my car sit for 2 nights and tonight I went to start it and it was dead. Upon charging for a while it still wouldn't hold a charge, same as the last battery. Now either I have really bad luck or its something wrong with my car.

The only parasitic loss should be from my alarm which I don't really use or my scanguage II which I don't think always turns off when I remove the key. I have an stereo installed as well. Those 3 things are the only aftermarket electronics installed in the car sans factory equipment.

I want to take my car to a shop that can measure the dark current drain while the car is off. Any recomendations?

Erik · 10-19-2008, 11:57 AM

how is your scanguage hooked up? if you just hard wired, it could be draining the battery. If its hooked up through a cig lighter, then it will only turned on when your key is turned to accessory, same with your stereo. You may have your amp (assuming you have one for speakers or woofers) hooked up wrong. Your p-connect should be hooked up to your radio, not to the battery (which i have seen, sadly).

2slowMX5 · 10-19-2008, 02:15 PM

The scanguage is hard wired, well its connected to the odb2 port which I thought lost power once the car was shut off. The amp is all wired fine, been doing installs too long to not hook it up right

What I don't understand is even if those components WERE drawing constant power how would that kill the battery? I mean a batteries job is to be drained & charged. True they have a limited charging lifespan but there is no way I should burn thru that in a 2 weeks.

teh DIRT · 10-19-2008, 02:19 PM

depending on the pin you hooked into for obd2...you might be attached to battery. Where are you located? I can measure parasitic battery drain.

Erik · 10-19-2008, 08:59 PM

well no. it takes A LOT to kick that starter. ever try to crank an engine by the pulley? Its not that easy. a battery at 70% struggles to turn a car over.

this may be a long shot though, did you check the grounds and leads for the battery? I dont know if this could do it, but maybe the battery has a wiring issue with its connectors

2slowMX5 · 10-22-2008, 07:12 AM

Battery leads seem to be fine. I just unhooked my alarm which I never use. I think that might of had a draw on the system that was more then it should of been.

10-18-2008, 12:30 AM	#1
2slowMX5 Tri-State Addict Join Date: Jan 2006 Member #1351 iTrader: (1)	My car keeps killing batteries! Within the last month I replaced my 2yr old Optima yellow top. I replaced it with a Bosch battery from pepboys (they no longer carry the optima that fits my car, its tiny). Well that lasted a week before it died. The guys there hooked it to a machine and it was shot. Soo I got another one. Well I left my car sit for 2 nights and tonight I went to start it and it was dead. Upon charging for a while it still wouldn't hold a charge, same as the last battery. Now either I have really bad luck or its something wrong with my car. The only parasitic loss should be from my alarm which I don't really use or my scanguage II which I don't think always turns off when I remove the key. I have an stereo installed as well. Those 3 things are the only aftermarket electronics installed in the car sans factory equipment. I want to take my car to a shop that can measure the dark current drain while the car is off. Any recomendations?

10-19-2008, 11:57 AM	#2
Erik Tri-State Post Whore Join Date: May 2006 Location: Glenside, PA Member #1962 My Ride: 2001 Audi A6 2.7 Twin Turbo iTrader: (4)	how is your scanguage hooked up? if you just hard wired, it could be draining the battery. If its hooked up through a cig lighter, then it will only turned on when your key is turned to accessory, same with your stereo. You may have your amp (assuming you have one for speakers or woofers) hooked up wrong. Your p-connect should be hooked up to your radio, not to the battery (which i have seen, sadly). __________________ --Eric '96 Mazda Miata \| FM V-Maxx Coilovers \| Jackson Racing Exhaust/Intake GONE To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 signatures. 01' Audi A6 2.7 Twin Turbo \| Daily \| NoMods

10-19-2008, 08:59 PM	#5
Erik Tri-State Post Whore Join Date: May 2006 Location: Glenside, PA Member #1962 My Ride: 2001 Audi A6 2.7 Twin Turbo iTrader: (4)	well no. it takes A LOT to kick that starter. ever try to crank an engine by the pulley? Its not that easy. a battery at 70% struggles to turn a car over. this may be a long shot though, did you check the grounds and leads for the battery? I dont know if this could do it, but maybe the battery has a wiring issue with its connectors __________________ --Eric '96 Mazda Miata \| FM V-Maxx Coilovers \| Jackson Racing Exhaust/Intake GONE To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 signatures. 01' Audi A6 2.7 Twin Turbo \| Daily \| NoMods

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10-19-2008, 02:15 PM	#3
2slowMX5 Tri-State Addict Join Date: Jan 2006 Member #1351 iTrader: (1)	The scanguage is hard wired, well its connected to the odb2 port which I thought lost power once the car was shut off. The amp is all wired fine, been doing installs too long to not hook it up right What I don't understand is even if those components WERE drawing constant power how would that kill the battery? I mean a batteries job is to be drained & charged. True they have a limited charging lifespan but there is no way I should burn thru that in a 2 weeks.

10-22-2008, 07:12 AM	#6
2slowMX5 Tri-State Addict Join Date: Jan 2006 Member #1351 iTrader: (1)	Battery leads seem to be fine. I just unhooked my alarm which I never use. I think that might of had a draw on the system that was more then it should of been.