battery loosing charge

[Codyvieth]

i drive my car and the dash lights get dim and my stereo turns off and for some reason the turning signals don't work. then if i turn off the car it doesn't have enough charge to start back up. I have a brand new alternator so its pretty strange. also this happened to me just now and for some reason it started back up after i let it sit for a bit but then it slowly started dying again like before.

 

[Codyvieth]

When ever this happens I just put the battery on a charger and then the car is usually fine for about a week and then thus happens again

 

[SrKegler]

If you put an autozone alternator on, its probably bad. Seen a lot of posts where guys have had to go thru 2-3 rebuilt ones to find a good one that works. Could also check the battery and make sure it doesn't have a dead cell in it. Finally check the 80 amp fuse.

Since you say you can drive about a week, I doubt if it's the battery. You're just not getting enough current to keep a charge in the battery and run the electronics, lights, radio, etc.

Another problem is if you have an aftermarket stereo system that is pulling a bunch of amps. 1G alternator only puts out about 85 amps.

 

[Codyvieth]

I also just got a new battery[DOUBLEPOST=1414035548][/DOUBLEPOST]And I'm not sure where the alternator came from it looks really new and I was told it was new when I got the car

 

[1990dsmkid]

Doesnt matter if it looks new and told it was new. You need to grab volt meter and check it while its running to make sure its charging.

 

[Codyvieth]

Yeah its just weird though because the car just sits at my house after dying and later when I come back to it. It stars working[DOUBLEPOST=1414037818][/DOUBLEPOST]I just started my car and it would make a weird noise when I turned on the headlights. It's probably the alternator right? I don't have a volt meter handy

 

[Eddie Tsi]

Could also check your ground/power wires that they're in good shape and their contact point are clean of oxidation and corrosion. Especially if you have the lead battery terminal connectors.

 

[o0GuitarKid0o]

Get the alternator checked out if thats not working properly that brand new battery will lose its charge so charge it up, It could be a lose connection on the alternator If it was acually replaced with a brand new one by the previous owner, you never no how they installed it

 

[PlanZero]

Rule of thumb for all dsms: always replace the factory battery terminals. Also, the last two times I was at auto zone people were returning duralast alternators, and one time before that a starter. The last time the customer was irate because they "tested" it and said it was still good, so the warranty wasn't applicable.

 

[Codyvieth]

Yeah i already have replaced the terminals I'll probably borrow a volt meter. I just don't see how my car dies doesn't start and then I let it sit and then it starts again[DOUBLEPOST=1414068836][/DOUBLEPOST]im gonna check the fuse when i get home.[DOUBLEPOST=1414108396][/DOUBLEPOST]i cant get the fuse for the alternator out because i dont have the right sized socket to get the bolts out. i did read about someone with same problem as me and it turned out to be the fuse so hopefully thats all i need.

 

[yoder]

easy way to check if the alternator is bad is start the car and while running disconnect your ground terminal from the battery if the car dies then its the alternator

 

[1990dsmkid]

easy way to check if the alternator is bad is start the car and while running disconnect your ground terminal from the battery if the car dies then its the alternator

Do not do this. Its not safe to do with our cars. I believe it can cause the ground track to blow in the ecu and cause more problems. This should only be done on the older cars.

 

[Codyvieth]

I'd rather just get it tested. It's free any way

 

[1990dsmkid]

Getting it tested doesn't mean it still isn't bad if it passes. Theres no load on it when being tested so it could still be junk. Best way is to have car running and check voltage with a meter.

 

[Codyvieth]

Well yeah that's how I was gonna test it

 

[redi4axion]

You can check the alternator while its still in your car, get a multimeter and some alligator clips and attach the positive to the alternator output only (obviously hook up the ground also). Turn the car on and read what the meter says (A strong alternator will make 14v and anything below 12 is bad) Then turn everything in the car on: blower, defrost, headlights, high beams, radio, a/c, hazards, fog lights. Read what the meter says again. If it takes a week for the battery to die then the alternator may just be on the cusp of dying but can still charge a little bit. A car with a completely bad alternator will die in a matter minutes to hours depending on which battery you have.

 

[yoder]

alright thanx for heads up dsmkid didnt know that about these cars thats just how i always tested any other one haha

 

[Codyvieth]

I just tested the fuse and it's fine. Still need to test alternator though

 

[thejollyrancher]

Sounds like your terminals are just loose or something. Take them off, clean the battery posts with a wire brush, and stick them back on and tighten them down. I bet thatll fix your issues

 

[Codyvieth]

No I don't think it's loose. I already replaced the terminals and there tight and the battery is like 2 weeks old

 

[TalonFULLtune]

use your volt meter ground to the ground terminal on battery positive on the power wire on the back of the alt.

 

[24hr_dsm_car]

i drive my car and the dash lights get dim and my stereo turns off and for some reason the turning signals don't work. then if i turn off the car it doesn't have enough charge to start back up. I have a brand new alternator so its pretty strange. also this happened to me just now and for some reason it started back up after i let it sit for a bit but then it slowly started dying again like before.

Check grounds, with full charged battery start testing fuses with ignition off for parasitic draw. Aftermarket alarm system? Check for swollen or corrosion in wire from alternator to battery, connections also.

 

[MrwillyJ]

Sounds definitely like the alternator is on its way out, mine did the same thing.. Search for the GM Alt swap and love life.

 

[AlwaysSunnyOhio]

I had the same problem. went through all my wires to find loose ends. Some idiot had my car before me. Who does that?

 

[Codyvieth]

I got a reading a lil less then 12