Another draining battery thread

[ballr858]

This passed week I've been having a battery draining issue. It started when I turned off my car for about a half hour with the hazard lights on. When I tried starting it up, the voltage was too low and it did not start. my lights were all dim. I figured it's because I'm using a smaller battery (miata) and there is a stupid chance that the hazard lights may have drained it. So I got my brother to jump start it and it fired right up and my safc2 showed 14.1 volts. As soon as we disconnected the jumper cables, the voltage started dropping slowly. Within a minute or 2 it was down to around 9 volts and I just shut the car off because it was on the verge of dying anyway. Again we jump started it and same thing happened, the volts kept dropping until the car died. Finally I decided to try to move my car into a parking spot before the car would die. Once the car was in the spot I looked at my safc2 and it was holding a 14.1-14.2 charge. Um..wtf?

Now when I drive my car the voltage fluctuates. If I am driving, the volts stay between 13.8-14.2. For some reason when I slow down to a stop the volts drop to 12.8-13. I've also noticed that if I shut either side door, the voltage will drop down to 12.8-13 then come back up to around 14.

I've had to jump start my car 3 more times this week. Is this an alternator issue?

This may be unrelated, but my automatic seat belts have been acting funny lately too. They cut in and out a bunch of times while going down.

Car: 93 240sx hatch w/ sr20det redtop

[reinvent]

Originally Posted by ballr858

This passed week I've been having a battery draining issue. It started when I turned off my car for about a half hour with the hazard lights on. When I tried starting it up, the voltage was too low and it did not start. my lights were all dim. I figured it's because I'm using a smaller battery (miata) and there is a stupid chance that the hazard lights may have drained it. So I got my brother to jump start it and it fired right up and my safc2 showed 14.1 volts. As soon as we disconnected the jumper cables, the voltage started dropping slowly. Within a minute or 2 it was down to around 9 volts and I just shut the car off because it was on the verge of dying anyway. Again we jump started it and same thing happened, the volts kept dropping until the car died. Finally I decided to try to move my car into a parking spot before the car would die. Once the car was in the spot I looked at my safc2 and it was holding a 14.1-14.2 charge. Um..wtf?

Now when I drive my car the voltage fluctuates. If I am driving, the volts stay between 13.8-14.2. For some reason when I slow down to a stop the volts drop to 12.8-13. I've also noticed that if I shut either side door, the voltage will drop down to 12.8-13 then come back up to around 14.

I've had to jump start my car 3 more times this week. Is this an alternator issue?

This may be unrelated, but my automatic seat belts have been acting funny lately too. They cut in and out a bunch of times while going down.

Car: 93 240sx hatch w/ sr20det redtop

i think you mean another alternator thread. make sure the alternator fuse is not blown. . your seatbelts are experiencing a lack of voltage

[MrChow]

Also check your grounds.

[wangan_cruiser]

first of all



you know all electrical equipment draw from battery right?



u open the door the dome light turns on. u open the door the seat belt draws power from the battery. if you drive it you said the voltage fluctuates. of course because when you run the car you add pretty much run the alternator and starts to charge up.



did your brake light and battery light lit up from the dash?


but for short.



checked the fuse of the alternator if its blown. if its not. do this


1. check your grounds.
2. check your alternator. loosen up the belt then check for any plays in your alternator. if there is too much play the brush in your alternator is about to go out which means it doesnt supply enough voltage for your car needs.

[reinvent]

goes without saying to check alt belt tension.

[ChiSleepyEyes]

this is getting too repetitive, DONT BUY THAT CRAP MIATA BATTERY, its not made for our car and the cranking amps for that battery cannot last. a simple little drain like a dome light can kill a little pos like that. I have seen this in too many forums with too many different cars. Your charging system is fine, your battery just cannot hold a charge anymore so buy a new one and make sure its the right size this time. Keep in mind im just not rambling nonsense from my head, i work with and have worked with batteries of all kinds for over a year. Conventional acid batteries blow mah balls. Gel and dry ftw

[reinvent]

are your lights brighter with engine running or off?