Battery Keeps Dying! Help

[BigBoosh3712]

Hey guys. Well I'm in a pickle. About 2 month ago I was driving my car and I parked it and I left. I walked back to it to get something about 25 minutes later and It wouldn't start. It was as if the battery had completley died. It was running perfectly fine before, I couldn't tell the battery was low at all. The lights weren't dimming or anything. So I replaced my battery.
So yesterday I went to a body shop. And 15 minutes later I hop in the car to leave and it won't start at all. All the interior lights and dash lights turn on but the car will not start at all. All I hear is 1 tick noise when I try to start the car. What could be doing this? The battery just dies without any symptoms. The car is always running fine and nothiing seems to be dimming to the times prior to when the battery had died. What could this be? A electrical short? A bad alternator? I am confused.

 

[igopoopy]

get your alternator tested

 

[02BLUR]

no way your battery died in 15 minutes. Make sure the battery connections are tight. I had a red Talon that the cables were always loose, and I always tried to tighten them, but when the car would not start, I'd get out there and move the cables around on the battery and it would start.

 

[Lunch_Box]

get your alternator tested

I agree.

 

[tigerstalon]

I've had two batteries in a span of 10 months do this to me. I'd drive somewhere, park for 15 minutes to an hour, come back to start it up, and she won't even crank. No warning signs of the battery slowly dying. In both instances, I had the shop run the charging system test, and it has shown nothing wrong with the alternator.

I will say that the first battery was the one in the car when I bought it, and it failed on the first cold morning in October, 2003 (8 months after I bought the car). The new battery cranked the engine much quicker than the old one ever had. So, that one was on its last legs. However, it still died rather quickly and abruptly.

 

[ldstang50]

i had a similar problem happen to me yesterday. car was runnign fine then shut it off then it wouldn't restart. changed the battery everything was 'fine.' going home last night with a 3hr old battery the battery idiot light was on along with the ebrake light. I woudl turn on my headlights but the dash lights would go out except for the idiot lights. after about an hr of normal highway drivign the car started sputtering, i just filled up with gas, pulled of the side of the road and she died. went to start it, nothing. got a new battery drove 8mi and it died again. ended up calling a friend and jumping it every 10mi or so.
here is my guess, the alternator is done or positive terminal battery post fuse it blown or the alternator fuse (not sure if that is what its called) is blown. I'll be checking the fuses tonight if they are good, then i change my alternator.
By the way, my car has 26,xxx on it.

 

[realhp=turbo]

Idstang50 you definatly have a dead alternator. To the original question Id have to say the same. Pull the alt out and have shucks test it that will give you the answer your looking for. If its not that then check the three fuses on the positive terminal. One of those could have poped.
mike

 

[BigBoosh3712]

I will take it to advanced soon to they can check it out. I will post the outcome just in case anyone has the same problem.

 

[02BLUR]

I've got the same problem right now. But last week I took the car to Schucks and they tested it while it was running and it tested ok. But then the battery died. And now it only runs on 3 cylinders and pees fuel out the leaking exhaust manifold...but this is another story

 

[95TSiNewbie]

Had a similar problem, i would jump the car and would start, turn it off and nothing. SO i hooked up my jumper cbales to a battery i had in my garage and the car started right up. Not enough Cold Cranking Amps?? I unno, got an Optima Red Top and love it... best maintance option i ever invested in.

 

[ldstang50]

Idstang50 you definatly have a dead alternator. To the original question Id have to say the same. Pull the alt out and have shucks test it that will give you the answer your looking for. If its not that then check the three fuses on the positive terminal. One of those could have poped.
mike

Well i went to the car last night to check the fuses, on of my class instructors is a master tech. He said to check the fuses first before i got an alternator. I did, and thank god i did that instead of buying an alternator. The 100amp fuse on the positive terminal was blown. I had hooked up my NOS kit to the power side of the battery, the directions said 12 volt +, but it needed AC not DC. So it blew the fuse and teh NOS kit swtich. Will be getting a new one today and will let you all know what happens

 

[BigBoosh3712]

Ok guys, so get this. The car has been sitting there for about two weeks becuase the battery has been dead. So I go to attempt to crank it today and it cranks just fine. It felt as if nothing was wrong with the battery. Did all of a sudden the battery regain power? I don't know.....So I drove it to advanced and they told me the alternator and battery seemed fine. I am really clueless. If you haven't read this thread, I am the author, so read my story up top. I would really appreciate it if anyone can help me. I am really not sure what in the world is going on. The car hasn't moved at all from it's spot....one day it's not working and then after about 2 weeks it works just fine (I turned it off and back on about 4 times within that hour and it cranked just fine). Anyone, anything? Thanks again.

 

[BigBoosh3712]

No one has any clue why it could be doing this? Anyone ever encounter the same problem? Any thoughts or ideas would be of great help. Thanks again guys.

 

[ldstang50]

check the alternator fuse. if thats good check the wiring on coming out of the alternator. also do a voltage test on the alternator. if your alternator is putting out enough volts then the alternator fuse is done or your wiring is fried. if your fuse is fine and your alternator is putting out enough volts then your wiring is fried. this sounds more like a wiring issue