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Something weird with my car electrical perhaps

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dynamiteinsmallpackage
New User

Mar 19, 2011, 10:18 AM

Post #1 of 6 (1414 views)
post icon Something weird with my car electrical perhaps Sign In
Ok I drive a 4 door 96 chevy lumina. Well lately the car doesn't start and the battery is dead. I had it checked and it isn't the alternator. The only thing I can think is that maybe it is electrical (the car doors don't lock anymore as an example). The battery is new and runs when it starts and hold charge for a while then it goes bye bye! Help! And thanks


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Mar 19, 2011, 10:30 AM

Post #2 of 6 (1403 views)
Re: Something weird with my car electrical perhaps Sign In
 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.



dynamiteinsmallpackage
New User

Mar 19, 2011, 12:07 PM

Post #3 of 6 (1395 views)
Re: Something weird with my car electrical perhaps Sign In
Ok so is there a way I can get this checked in an affordable way? My roomie may be able to figure it out but I don't know! And thanks so much for your help


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Mar 19, 2011, 12:24 PM

Post #4 of 6 (1391 views)
Re: Something weird with my car electrical perhaps Sign In
I just gave you instructions on how to do it yourself. it doesn't get any more affordable than that. If it's beyond your ability, then you'll have to pay someone else to do it for you.



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

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.



dynamiteinsmallpackage
New User

Mar 19, 2011, 12:36 PM

Post #5 of 6 (1386 views)
Re: Something weird with my car electrical perhaps Sign In
Well...thanks for that. How much does it cost to diagnose do you know?
In Reply To
I just gave you instructions on how to do it yourself. it doesn't get any more affordable than that. If it's beyond your ability, then you'll have to pay someone else to do it for you.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Mar 19, 2011, 2:27 PM

Post #6 of 6 (1379 views)
Re: Something weird with my car electrical perhaps Sign In
Most shops charge $80 to $100 per hour for whatever time it takes..



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

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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