help! battery keeps dying! - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

f0oLz · 02-25-2005, 04:51 PM

ah! so i've gone through my 2nd battery in 3 months or so.. both of which were westco batteries. =\ the first time i replaced the battery, everything was fine, seemed to hold the current, and it didnt die out until i didnt get to drive it for a few months. i didnt think it was the battery so i went to get it charged, but it only held 10v and yea, once you try to start the car with it, it just straight up dies, no cranking noise whatsoever! so i got the battery replaced, put it in.. everything was ok.. and then i didnt get to drive it for 2 weeks.. and it was dead. just dead.. jumpable, but as soon as i turn the car off, it doesnt start again. =\ i guess im just lookin for possibilities, problem wise. if anyone could give suggestions to what it might be, thanks!

s14 w/ sr20

Doriftomodachi · 02-25-2005, 08:04 PM

I just got a westco as well. Now when I crank up my cd player (I have an amp that cranks out 100w to the subwoofer) the amp stops cranking. It NEVER did this before I got the westco. I looked at the amp and the status led changes from blue (ok) to red (not good) until I turn down the volume. Apparently the westco battery can't handle the power. It's either time to relocate the battery to the trunk or get a high powered battery.

Dousan_PG · 02-25-2005, 08:07 PM

you ladies need to invest in a volt gauge of some sort

the reason i wont run those wimpy batteries. i want my shit to start in whatever condition, if i left the radio on or left for a few weeks.

idlafie · 02-26-2005, 03:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by f0oLz

ah! so i've gone through my 2nd battery in 3 months or so.. both of which were westco batteries. =\ the first time i replaced the battery, everything was fine, seemed to hold the current, and it didnt die out until i didnt get to drive it for a few months. i didnt think it was the battery so i went to get it charged, but it only held 10v and yea, once you try to start the car with it, it just straight up dies, no cranking noise whatsoever! so i got the battery replaced, put it in.. everything was ok.. and then i didnt get to drive it for 2 weeks.. and it was dead. just dead.. jumpable, but as soon as i turn the car off, it doesnt start again. =\ i guess im just lookin for possibilities, problem wise. if anyone could give suggestions to what it might be, thanks!

s14 w/ sr20

Battery keeps dying because something is draining the power from the battery. It could be something like your car alarm, the dashboard clock, your memory settings on your car stereo, a stuck relay, etc. You're gonna have to disconnect all of these items one by one as you watch an ammeter for voltage fluctuations. Once you figure out what your problem item is that is draining your battery, you can take the necessary action to repair it.
Troubleshooting your battery drain is gonna be a beyotch!!
Good luck!!
ID

idlafie · 02-26-2005, 03:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doriftomodachi

I just got a westco as well. Now when I crank up my cd player (I have an amp that cranks out 100w to the subwoofer) the amp stops cranking. It NEVER did this before I got the westco. I looked at the amp and the status led changes from blue (ok) to red (not good) until I turn down the volume. Apparently the westco battery can't handle the power. It's either time to relocate the battery to the trunk or get a high powered battery.

A high powered battery?? Uhhh...dont you mean a high powered alternator?? If your alternator is only kicking out 80 amps to power your entire car, (not including your stereo when you are cranking it), you think 80 amps is enough power to charge your battery AND run your stereo?? I dont' think so!! A bigger battery can hold more of a charge, but even a high powered stereo/amp system can drain that battery too!! You're best bet is just get a high powered alternator, ( http://www.performancedistributors.com/alternator.htm ) , rated at 120 amps or more. That should be more than enough juice to charge your battery AND run your stereo.
anyhow...hope this helps...
ID

idlafie · 02-26-2005, 03:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dousan_PG

you ladies need to invest in a volt gauge of some sort

the reason i wont run those wimpy batteries. i want my shit to start in whatever condition, if i left the radio on or left for a few weeks.

A volt gauge doesn't really help...all it tells you is that you are running low on power or don't have enough power to crank your motor over. As long as the battery you are using has the cold cranking amps necessary to kick your car over then you should be able to start your car, (I think the 240 requires 400 CCA to turn the motor over). However, if something like a car alarm, or a stuck relay is draining power from your battery, then it doesn't really matter cuz you won't have the amps necessary to crank your car over when you need it.
Anyhow...hope this clarifies some confusion....
ID

s13gonwild · 02-26-2005, 03:34 AM

alternator? take it to autozone and have them check it its free

Doriftomodachi · 02-26-2005, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by idlafie

A high powered battery?? Uhhh...dont you mean a high powered alternator?? If your alternator is only kicking out 80 amps to power your entire car, (not including your stereo when you are cranking it), you think 80 amps is enough power to charge your battery AND run your stereo?? I dont' think so!! A bigger battery can hold more of a charge, but even a high powered stereo/amp system can drain that battery too!! You're best bet is just get a high powered alternator, ( http://www.performancedistributors.com/alternator.htm ) , rated at 120 amps or more. That should be more than enough juice to charge your battery AND run your stereo.
anyhow...hope this helps...
ID

Hey wassup Diego it's Norm =) Yeah good point! Hmmm...I'm just wondering why my stereo didn't do this with my "normal" battery...

Yoshi · 03-16-2005, 02:26 PM

resurrection!
Was this ever resolved? I just started having a very similar issue

Heartwork · 03-16-2005, 06:00 PM

it could be a million things....i had this problem with my car, except i had large drain overnight....i had a car alarm that was wired into teh headlights/horn fuse, but turned out it wasnt my car alarm....it was my frayed front turn signal harness since its part of the headlight harness which is fused with car alarm....

something as small as something not getting grounded to an open relay somewhere is usually a bitch to find....just gotta work backwards and trace =\

jdmsilvia909 · 03-20-2005, 01:30 AM

take the alternator out of the car and get it checked out at your local parts store it's most likely your alternator because the alternator is not charging the battery...and also by jumping the car your damaging the alternator and the battery....so what you need to do is get the alternaotr checked out if the alternator is no good, replace it and while your at it replace the battery as well.

s13gonwild · 03-20-2005, 06:23 AM

get a damm alternator

Yoshi · 03-20-2005, 02:12 PM

BAH! finally went and got a load tester today (who knew they'd be so cheap?) turns out that my Odyssey is not longer able to carry a charge, it's done. After charging 2.5hrs @ 10A, it's had a whopping 20CA's. After talking to a bunch of domestic guys, they all concurred that the Odysseys were by far the best battery for their size (otherwise Optimas are the obvious choice), but they die every 2-3 years like clockwork. How old is mine? 2.5 yrs.

Jeah. Time for a new drycell

Expensive arse drycells :/

aa87 · 04-05-2005, 09:11 PM

Im starting to have similar problems, i just got my car back from a KA swap, and it isnt holding a charge, everytime i go and crank it, it barely turns the starter, im gonna get the battery chedked tommorow, if thats not it, possibly a ground or what? gah!

c0axiL · 04-07-2005, 01:14 PM

have your alternator checked, and also, is the remote on the amp wired straight to the battery or is it wired into the radio? because if its wired straight to the battery, it will constantly be on and slowly drain the power.

f0oLz · 04-14-2005, 01:51 PM

haha my car is still sitting in the garage.. =T but yeaa, im planning to get it done this week.. (been wayy to busy and putting it off) anywayss, hopefully it IS the alternator.. the thing is, i've changed the battery, and the new battery died (cant hold a charge) within 2 weeks! so i have NO idea what is happening

aa87 · 04-14-2005, 03:53 PM

I found my problem, Alternator relay

02-25-2005, 04:51 PM	#1
f0oLz Leaky Injector Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: cali Posts: 73 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	help! battery keeps dying! ah! so i've gone through my 2nd battery in 3 months or so.. both of which were westco batteries. =\ the first time i replaced the battery, everything was fine, seemed to hold the current, and it didnt die out until i didnt get to drive it for a few months. i didnt think it was the battery so i went to get it charged, but it only held 10v and yea, once you try to start the car with it, it just straight up dies, no cranking noise whatsoever! so i got the battery replaced, put it in.. everything was ok.. and then i didnt get to drive it for 2 weeks.. and it was dead. just dead.. jumpable, but as soon as i turn the car off, it doesnt start again. =\ i guess im just lookin for possibilities, problem wise. if anyone could give suggestions to what it might be, thanks! s14 w/ sr20

02-25-2005, 08:07 PM	#3
Dousan_PG Post Whore! Join Date: May 2002 Location: Orange County, California Age: 46 Posts: 16,640 Trader Rating: (23) Rides Gallery: Dousan_PG Feedback Score: 23 reviews	you ladies need to invest in a volt gauge of some sort the reason i wont run those wimpy batteries. i want my shit to start in whatever condition, if i left the radio on or left for a few weeks. __________________ Aaron Pink GodziRa www.geocities.com/pink_godzira

03-16-2005, 02:26 PM	#9
Yoshi Post Whore! Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Washington Age: 48 Posts: 3,003 Trader Rating: (1) Rides Gallery: Yoshi Feedback Score: 1 reviews	resurrection! Was this ever resolved? I just started having a very similar issue __________________ www.360realms.com/S13-S15

03-20-2005, 01:30 AM	#11
jdmsilvia909 Zilvia Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: riverside Age: 43 Posts: 188 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	take the alternator out of the car and get it checked out at your local parts store it's most likely your alternator because the alternator is not charging the battery...and also by jumping the car your damaging the alternator and the battery....so what you need to do is get the alternaotr checked out if the alternator is no good, replace it and while your at it replace the battery as well. __________________ Image(s) exceed(s) forum limit, strike 2 -Moderation R.I.P. 1990 NISSAN 240SX...U WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN

03-20-2005, 02:12 PM	#13
Yoshi Post Whore! Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Washington Age: 48 Posts: 3,003 Trader Rating: (1) Rides Gallery: Yoshi Feedback Score: 1 reviews	BAH! finally went and got a load tester today (who knew they'd be so cheap?) turns out that my Odyssey is not longer able to carry a charge, it's done. After charging 2.5hrs @ 10A, it's had a whopping 20CA's. After talking to a bunch of domestic guys, they all concurred that the Odysseys were by far the best battery for their size (otherwise Optimas are the obvious choice), but they die every 2-3 years like clockwork. How old is mine? 2.5 yrs. Jeah. Time for a new drycell Expensive arse drycells :/ __________________ www.360realms.com/S13-S15

02-25-2005, 08:04 PM	#2
Doriftomodachi BANNED Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: All over So Cal Posts: 410 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I just got a westco as well. Now when I crank up my cd player (I have an amp that cranks out 100w to the subwoofer) the amp stops cranking. It NEVER did this before I got the westco. I looked at the amp and the status led changes from blue (ok) to red (not good) until I turn down the volume. Apparently the westco battery can't handle the power. It's either time to relocate the battery to the trunk or get a high powered battery.

02-26-2005, 03:34 AM	#7
s13gonwild BANNED Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: cali Posts: 466 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	alternator? take it to autozone and have them check it its free

03-16-2005, 06:00 PM	#10
Heartwork BANNED Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Battle Ruins Posts: 1,183 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	it could be a million things....i had this problem with my car, except i had large drain overnight....i had a car alarm that was wired into teh headlights/horn fuse, but turned out it wasnt my car alarm....it was my frayed front turn signal harness since its part of the headlight harness which is fused with car alarm.... something as small as something not getting grounded to an open relay somewhere is usually a bitch to find....just gotta work backwards and trace =\

03-20-2005, 06:23 AM	#12
s13gonwild BANNED Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: cali Posts: 466 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	get a damm alternator

04-05-2005, 09:11 PM	#14
aa87 Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: May 2003 Location: Shreveport, LA Age: 37 Posts: 1,116 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	Im starting to have similar problems, i just got my car back from a KA swap, and it isnt holding a charge, everytime i go and crank it, it barely turns the starter, im gonna get the battery chedked tommorow, if thats not it, possibly a ground or what? gah!

04-07-2005, 01:14 PM	#15
c0axiL Leaky Injector Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: carolina beach, nc Age: 38 Posts: 86 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	have your alternator checked, and also, is the remote on the amp wired straight to the battery or is it wired into the radio? because if its wired straight to the battery, it will constantly be on and slowly drain the power.

04-14-2005, 01:51 PM	#16
f0oLz Leaky Injector Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: cali Posts: 73 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	haha my car is still sitting in the garage.. =T but yeaa, im planning to get it done this week.. (been wayy to busy and putting it off) anywayss, hopefully it IS the alternator.. the thing is, i've changed the battery, and the new battery died (cant hold a charge) within 2 weeks! so i have NO idea what is happening

04-14-2005, 03:53 PM	#17
aa87 Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: May 2003 Location: Shreveport, LA Age: 37 Posts: 1,116 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	I found my problem, Alternator relay