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97 saturn battery discharge overnight


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wrencherguy
New User

Sep 18, 2009, 9:56 PM

Post #1 of 6 (5007 views)
97 saturn battery discharge overnight Sign In

I have a 1997 saturn sl2 4cyl dohc 1.9l.Replaced alternator because of bad diodes,recharged battery(3 yrs old) drove car to advance auto parts where they tested charging and starting systems and battery,all tested ok. current/amp draw test .02ma.Next day battery was dead.Car starts with a jump and runs.Everything shuts off with ignition.Could the battery have been damaged by bad alternator?Maybe bad cells.Could the fully charged battery have fooled their test equipment into believing the battery was good.Please help me I am unemployed and am trying to fix my daughters car she is in college and works 2 jobs to get by.We can't afford to take car to shop for diagnosis.(60-80$ an hr)Crazy


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Sep 19, 2009, 4:14 AM

Post #2 of 6 (4992 views)
Re: 97 saturn battery discharge overnight Sign In

I think about anything could fool the people at Advance. It's sounding like a bad battery because 20ma is an acceptable amount of parasitic draw. It can handle up to 50ma. I would try leaving the battery disconnected overnight to see if it makes any difference.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



DanD
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DanD profile image

Sep 19, 2009, 5:00 AM

Post #3 of 6 (4988 views)
Re: 97 saturn battery discharge overnight Sign In

If you mean .02 milliamp (.00002amp) that will not drain even a weak battery; but if by chance you mean .02 amp then that can drain, an already weak 3 year old battery, over night.
Maybe retest the draw and only use the meter on full amp scale, set to the third decimal point; that way we’ll all be on the same page?
Yes a battery that has been freshly charged can fool some electronic battery testers.
If I have a questionable battery and I’m using my hand held electronic tester; I’ll pull the headlights on (engine off) for 30 seconds or so. That’ll remove the surface charge and then you’ll be testing; the batteries reserve/actual capacity.
Testing a battery old school, by fully/properly charging a battery and then performing a high rate discharge test is still the best way, of checking a battery.
But with the costs and the time that has too be spent; charging, discharging and then recharging a questionable battery; most people will opt to just replace it.

Hammer you beat me to the reply button again; buddy. LOL

Dan.

Canadian "EH"






Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Sep 19, 2009, 6:04 AM

Post #4 of 6 (4982 views)
Re: 97 saturn battery discharge overnight Sign In


Quote
Hammer you beat me to the reply button again; buddy. LOL


Yeah, but only by 45 minutes

I will reiterate that even 50ma won't take a good battery down overnight. If that amount of draw is taking it down, then the battery is no good. Late model cars routinely have parasitic draws in the 20ma to 40ma range.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



DanD
Veteran / Moderator
DanD profile image

Sep 20, 2009, 3:52 AM

Post #5 of 6 (4966 views)
Re: 97 saturn battery discharge overnight Sign In

Not like it really matters Mr. H time but don’t go by the time stamp of my post’s.; I probably posted just a couple of minutes or less after you. I’ve never bothered to adjust the time offset in my profile; you in Florida and me in Ontario; we’re in different time zones anyway; are we not?
Like I said it doesn’t matter because we’re not dealing in real time anyway; not like if we’re talking on the phone.
You being fast at the draw is good thing; I can confirm my post; we’re usually on the same page anyway. LOL

Dan.

Canadian "EH"






Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Sep 20, 2009, 4:43 AM

Post #6 of 6 (4960 views)
Re: 97 saturn battery discharge overnight Sign In

No Problem...............LOL


Just so your aware
The way the time stamp works here is that when you adjust your offset, it only changes what you see, not what other people see so if mine is correct, all times I see will reflect that.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.







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