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1997 Pontiac Sunfire battery drains, car won't start


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jasonswett
New User

Aug 19, 2011, 7:23 AM

Post #1 of 6 (5623 views)
1997 Pontiac Sunfire battery drains, car won't start Sign In

I have a 1997 Pontiac Sunfire sedan with a 2.2 liter engine and about 145K miles.

Last week I noticed it was turning over more and more slowly when I was starting it. About 3 or 4 starts after I first noticed this, the car wouldn't turn over at all.

We jumped the car and when we hooked a voltage meter up to the battery with the car running, it steadily read about 14.4 volts, so apparently the alternator is fine. This lead me to believe it was the battery. I had the battery tested at the auto parts store yesterday and they said it was bad, so I had the battery replaced. After that the car started up fine the rest of the day (3 or 4 starts over 10 hours or so).

But when I tried to start the car this morning it wouldn't turn over. If it's not the alternator and it's not the battery, what could it be? Is it possible that the alternator could be bad despite my voltage reading?

Thanks,
Jason


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Aug 19, 2011, 7:34 AM

Post #2 of 6 (5615 views)
Re: 1997 Pontiac Sunfire battery drains, car won't start Sign In

You probably have a parasitic draw in the system.
There is a procedure for finding a battery draw like that.

You will need a digital ammeter and a jumper wire with clips on the ends to do this.
First rig any door switches so you can have a door open without triggering the interior lights and unplug the hood light. Remove one battery cable and attach the meter in series between the battery cable and battery post. Take the jumper wire and also attach it the same way. Leave the jumper wire on for at least 10 minutes to expire all the automatic timers. Now remove the jumper wire and read the meter. Anything over 50ma is too much draw. The way you locate this is to start removing fuses one at a time until the meter drops to normal level. This will be the circuit with something staying on. Determine what components are part of that circuit and check them individually until the problem is isolated.



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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.



Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Aug 19, 2011, 8:57 AM

Post #3 of 6 (5600 views)
Re: 1997 Pontiac Sunfire battery drains, car won't start Sign In

Just to add: HT said rig doors so lights don't go on. Open window and forget the doors if possible for checks. Disconnect any hood light too for checks.

Other: New or not batteries and or alternators may not be good not matter what the stupid FREE checks show! New or not, stuff happens,

T

PS: A new battery going dead can kill a good one!



Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Aug 19, 2011, 9:20 AM

Post #4 of 6 (5598 views)
Re: 1997 Pontiac Sunfire battery drains, car won't start Sign In

Jason: To add again. This is a cheapo car and I read posts like a mad man and the mileage will take its toll. All cast iron American stuff can do a 1/2 mil miles if cared for. Not this car. Never mind just charging system but how long do you expect it to last without problems that exceed its value?

Tom



Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Aug 19, 2011, 9:46 AM

Post #5 of 6 (5592 views)
Re: 1997 Pontiac Sunfire battery drains, car won't start Sign In

You're going to have to have the door open to access the fuse box under the dash.



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

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.



Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Aug 19, 2011, 4:28 PM

Post #6 of 6 (5580 views)
Re: 1997 Pontiac Sunfire battery drains, car won't start Sign In

If necessary, pull the fuse for interior lighting,

Tom







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