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Car dies when let off gas or stop. Loses charge quickly
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jakekay
New User
Sep 16, 2013, 10:14 AM
Post #1 of 5
(2358 views)
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Car dies when let off gas or stop. Loses charge quickly
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1998 Jeep grand cherokee 5.2 L 145K. My car's battery charge is lost very quickly. For example leaving a door open for 2 minutes and the car will have trouble starting. To get it started, I will have to turn the key over and give it heavy gas. Even once it is started, often times, if I let off the gas, the car will die. Most of the time I have to hold the gas down for a while to do what I think is just recharging the battery. Anyhow, even when it starts, and I begin driving, often times it will die as I am driving if I either let of the gas, or come to a complete stop. So I end up very awkwardly holding down the gas pedal and brake pedal at the same time at stop signs and lights to keep the car from dying. Sometimes though the car will not die for weeks and no difference in weather or anything else. I do notice though that when the car is not dying, the motor will some how keep rpms the same even when I let off the gas. As in I will be coasting at the same speed and not slow down. Almost like an automatic cruise control. Looking at the tachometer both when the car is running okay and when it is dying- I often see the needle drop very sharply, almost to zero, then suddenly catch itself and fly back up. I am just wondering if I need a new battery, or battery cables (connection was corroded, poured coke on it, and now it seems okay), or if it's a more significant problem with my car. Any help is appreciated. Thanks!
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Sep 16, 2013, 11:00 AM
Post #2 of 5
(2345 views)
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Re: Car dies when let off gas or stop. Loses charge quickly
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2 minutes with just interior lights is nuts. Playing with the gas pedal does nothing but exercise your foot.
Use a memory saver and clean up the battery cables. They might seem clean and tight and not making a good connection at all. It probably resets your radio pre-sets also and clock.
I'm guess but it's consistent with multiple tries finally working that the lousy connection wherever but like right at battery just gets hot and finally works then loses it confusing the car with assorted engine and body controls,
T
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jakekay
New User
Sep 17, 2013, 7:46 AM
Post #3 of 5
(2288 views)
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Re: Car dies when let off gas or stop. Loses charge quickly
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Thanks for the help. I removed the cables and scrubbed them as well as the battery posts w/ a baking soda solution. When I hooked everything back up the battery was dead. Jump started it no problem and let it run for about 45 min. This morning, I tried again and it won't turn over at all. Does this reinforce a battery/cable issue, or could this be an alternator problem? Thanks
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Sep 17, 2013, 8:43 AM
Post #4 of 5
(2279 views)
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Re: Car dies when let off gas or stop. Loses charge quickly
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Back some - not clean to look at but with a battery brush. Now I am doubting that's it with a dead battery so it will have to be charged and tested along with charging system.
Batteries that go dead to many times stay dead newer or not so not good for them. If it tests OK then it's time to check for a parasitic drain but begin with testing battery and charging system.
Easy enough with cheaper products generally a 24 hour trickle automatic battery charger that will quit when it's done and then if you just watch voltage with cranking it or headlights on or both watch for what it can take without dropping too much voltage.
The parts places routinely will check things out for free even but know it has to be charged for testing.
Charger/maintainer is $20 bucks at some home centers. Key is that it's automatic to shut off. A multimeter, digital is nice isn't that expensive either, just need to know volts and ohms sometimes for most everything. Point is you need some stuff for testing and working on a car but know when to quit as you can blow the bank fast with tools and equipment vs getting help and just pay for what might be one time things,
T
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Sep 17, 2013, 8:45 AM
Post #5 of 5
(2275 views)
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Re: Car dies when let off gas or stop. Loses charge quickly
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That's more like a bad battery or parasitic draw. Have the battery charged and tested and don't charge it with your alternator or you will be replacing that also.
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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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