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Battery issues, replaced alternator, still draining


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shramme
New User

Jan 9, 2017, 11:26 AM

Post #1 of 7 (1220 views)
Battery issues, replaced alternator, still draining Sign In

2004 Chrystler Sebring 2.7l V6 , 81,010 miles

My battery was not holding a charge, so I went to autozone and got the battery, starter, and alternator diagnostic. The alternator failed. I bought a new alternator and put this in my car. I went back to autozone and got the three diagnostics again, and this time they all passed. BUT, the next morning it was dead again.


After I replaced my alternator, I was driving around at night to test it again, and my dashboard that displays the milage would dim periodically.

Sometimes I have a starter fuse blow, and I have to replace it.


What should be my next step in diagnosing this?


kev2
Veteran
kev2 profile image

Jan 9, 2017, 11:38 AM

Post #2 of 7 (1214 views)
Re: Battery issues, replaced alternator, still draining Sign In

The battery not holding a charge suggests a draw, parasitic draw we call that, current drawing with key out of car.
My first suspect would be anything not original to vehicle, add ons modifications etc...
Auto zone has good parts clerks, might be beyond their skill level to check this out.
Are you comfortable using a DVOM and wiring diagrams?


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Jan 9, 2017, 11:45 AM

Post #3 of 7 (1209 views)
Re: Battery issues, replaced alternator, still draining Sign In


Quote
Auto zone has good parts clerks, might be beyond their skill level to check this out.


I think you're giving them TOO MUCH credit.



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

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.



shramme
New User

Jan 9, 2017, 11:47 AM

Post #4 of 7 (1207 views)
Re: Battery issues, replaced alternator, still draining Sign In

So my trunk will not latch. Perhaps that is why, but the trunk didn't latch for weeks before any battery issue happened.

I have not used DVOM or wiring diagrams, but I have a basic understanding of electronics and circuits


kev2
Veteran
kev2 profile image

Jan 9, 2017, 12:57 PM

Post #5 of 7 (1188 views)
Re: Battery issues, replaced alternator, still draining Sign In

Might want to check out google - see if you tube offers a tutorial 'parasitic draws'.
If you are comfortable after that we will find the diagrams, if you can utilize them while working with a DVOM or test light.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Jan 9, 2017, 1:26 PM

Post #6 of 7 (1182 views)
Re: Battery issues, replaced alternator, still draining Sign In

I'm giving you the instructions to find a parasitic draw. If you understand electrical circuits enough to follow it, then go for it. If not, then you need to send it to a professional.


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.



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

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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Jan 9, 2017, 3:16 PM

Post #7 of 7 (1164 views)
Re: Battery issues, replaced alternator, still draining Sign In

Just what to you mean by "trunk doesn't latch" exactly? Is it supposed to pull down by itself with one click or can the latch stay "ajar" like common doors do?


If unable to see a light go off and I'm not suggesting putting someone in a trunk just take the bulb out till you fix that just anyway.


If it finishes closing itself by design decide on fixing that or there are ways to get it latch in proper spot without that feature if you can do without it,


T







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