I got a new battery new alternator put in but my battery just gets drained I keep having to buy new batterys
I've got a new alternator put in a new battery and my car just keeps dying it just drains the battery and keep having to buy new batterys it happens everyday
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
This may be a sign of a failing voltage regulator or potentially a bad grounding problem causing a draw on the system. The voltage regulator is a unit that regulates the charging of the battery by the alternator. Often times this will result in the alternator allowing too much power to be delivered to the battery resulting in damaging wires and prematurely sometimes destroying the battery. In other cases it may result in the alternator not supplying enough power to the battery, resulting in undercharging the battery or not charging it at all. In either case, I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose your vehicle’s charging system.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
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What Causes a Car Battery to Keep Dying? Some of the most common reasons for a car battery to die repeatedly include loose or corroded battery connections, persistent electrical drains, charging problems, constantly demanding more power than the alternator can provide, and even extreme weather.
Defective charging system – A car battery drains quickly if something called the alternator on your charging system fails to push out enough voltage, ideally between 13.5 – 14.5 volts. In this case, the battery will continue to drain even while the car is running.
Contrary to its purpose, an alternator can drain a battery. It`s rare, but it`s possible. A draw on the battery only occurs if there`s a problem with either a component in the alternator itself or connections to it.
This can be caused by overcharging, undercharging, or leaving the battery in a discharged state for too long. A battery that doesn`t hold a charge is frustrating and can happen for many reasons. It could be an issue with the batteries themselves or a problem with the charging system.
If you`ve replaced your battery but the engine still won`t start, it could actually be an engine problem. A seized engine won`t turn over, and that often resembles a bad starter or dead battery. If you suspect that your problem stems from an engine issue, it could take hours to diagnose and repair.
If your vehicle is losing battery voltage (i.e. your battery light is on) the problem may be your battery. You have a new alternator, so if your battery is bad, it won`t hold the charge from the alternator. The problem could still be a defective alternator or improper installation. A fuse could also be the cause.
Using a test switch and digital ammeter is the simplest, most accurate way to measure parasitic drain directly. A test switch goes between the negative battery terminal and negative battery cable.
Symptoms of a burnt out diode:
The engine will begin to run rough, lack power and eventually stall and not start again. The battery warning light will turn on, warning you that there is a problem with your alternator charging system. The headlights will become dim due to reduced battery voltage.
Probably, the most common symptom associated with a bad regulator is flickering, dimming, or pulsing lights. To be more specific, you may notice that the vehicle`s: Headlights fluctuate between bright and dim, without you doing anything. High beam isn`t working as expected.
If your wire connection to the battery is loose. Your batter will drain over a period of time. I have personally experience it. If the ground wire was touching the metal then it would have drained the battery.
12.0 volts or below – At 12.0 volts your battery is considered to be fully discharged or `flat` and should be recharged as soon as possible. The lifespan of your battery will be severely affected if it remains within this voltage range for extended periods of time.
This voltage range means the battery is in good condition for starting the vehicle. If the measured reading is less than 12.2 volts, the battery`s resting voltage is weak, which means it most likely needs to be charged or replaced.
The new battery does not have to be configured for the most current car models. Banner conclusion: No registration required; a check of the electrical functions after changing the battery is recommended.
Why won`t my car start but the battery is good? If your car won`t start but the battery is good, the most common cause is a faulty starter – though it could also be to do with your fuel. You may have insufficient fuel to get the car going.
Strong vibrations or water ingress are possible causes of bearing damage on alternators. But too much tension on the drive belt can also cause bearing damage or premature wear.
Do I need a new battery after replacing an alternator? NO. unless there is something wrong with the one you have. If the alternator failed in a manner whereby it`s output voltage went crazy to say 17 volts for some time that would have damaged the battery, the old one should be OK.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
I got a new battery new alternator put in but my battery just gets drained I keep having to buy new batterys
ANSWER : This may be a sign of a failing voltage regulator or potentially a bad grounding problem causing a draw on the system. The voltage regulator is a unit that regulates the charging of the battery by the alternator. Often times this will result in the alternator allowing too much power to be delivered to the battery resulting in damaging wires and prematurely sometimes destroying the battery. In other cases it may result in the alternator not supplying enough power to the battery, resulting in undercharging the battery or not charging it at all. In either case, I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose your vehicle’s charging system.
Battery drains quickly, New battery,Heavy drain, Replaced alternator , drain still there,goes away when bat. main 2 fuse is pulled
ANSWER : Hi there. It’s quite possible that you have one of two things causing the drain to the battery. First, you have a bad ground somewhere in the main relay or fuse box or an exposed wire somewhere that is not allowing the circuit to complete from the alternator to the battery. This can cause a battery draining issue as you’re describing, but it could also be one of multiple other electrical problems. The best way to pinpoint the exact source is to have a professional mobile mechanic come to your location and complete a battery will not hold a charge inspection.
my battery kept draining until i bought a new alternator and battery. i have tightened the belt on the alternator but it still die
ANSWER : Hi there. The best way to diagnose why a battery would constantly drain is to review it’s job and how it is recharged. The battery is responsible for powering all electrical systems until the vehicle is started. At this point, the alternator takes over and also continually charges the battery while the vehicle is in use. A battery will drain when one of two things occurs. First, a battery will drain if it is constantly in use; supplying power to an electrical component even if the key is not in the ignition. Second, the battery will eventually die if the battery is not being charged frequently. However, since this is happening every two days, my initial thought would be that some electrical component on your 86 Olds is continuing to draw power from the battery. This is known as a parasitic drain. The best way to determine the source of this battery issue is to have one of our professional mobile mechanics come to your location and complete a battery will not hold a charge inspection.
Just put a new carburetor, battery, starter relay, alternator, car stalls out while driving and battery dies when restarted
ANSWER : The battery should be load tested. Simply charging the battery or measuring voltage is not adequate. Measure charging output, too. You want to confirm that the ignition system, including for instance the ignition coil and ignition switch, are not intermittently cutting out. Coils can fail as temperature rises (resistance increases with temperature) so if you run the car for a while and all of a sudden it quits, measure the resistance of the coil windings to see if that provides a clue. Apart from that, the ENTIRE primary side ignition circuit has to be checked, using voltage drop testing (and testing of the hall effect sensor in the distributor), to rule the primary side in or out. If you want the required diagnostic steps performed by a certified Mechanic, dispatched by YourMechanic right to your location, please request a stalling diagnostic and the responding certified mechanic will get this taken care of for you. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
We have a new battery, new alternator, new coil pk, new master fuse and the car still won’t hold power.
ANSWER : Hi there. The only thing that I could think possible is causing your problem is that something may not have been correctly installed while your son was completing this maintenance. However, if your engine was difficult to start before this service, it’s possible there are different components that are damaged that simply didn’t resolve the issue. The only way of knowing what is going on with your Trailblazer would be to have one of our mobile mechanics in your area come to your location and complete a car is hard to start inspection.
Ok so i just got a use but like new alternator on my 2011 chevy cruze and a brand new battery
ANSWER : The voltage output of the alternator should be tested at the battery terminals while the engine is running. You should read output of 13.8 volts on up to maybe 14.4 volts but the value (and range, which is dependent on engine RPM) will depend on your Factory Service Manual Specification which the Mechanic will have on hand. You also have to look at the output while running various circuits. It could be that there is a short in one of those circuits which causes battery voltage to drop below the threshold at which the warning light will set. My initial suspicion would be the alternator is simply out of spec. What I would recommend is having a certified professional from YourMechanic perform an inspection of your battery and charging system which will identify the root cause of this issue you are having. Once the cause is understood, he or she will explain the repair strategy and cost. Please let us know how we can assist you further or if you have additional questions.
I have Chrysler 300c. Battery light came on, changed battery and alternator but power still getting drained and battery light still comes on.
ANSWER : Hi, thanks for writing in. This may be a sign of a failing starter relay. The starter relay is a small unit near the starter that directs power to the starter from the battery. When this fails, it may cause a clicking sound and will not allow the starter to engage the flywheel when you turn the key. I would suggest having a professional from YourMechanic come to your home to diagnose your starting issue to determine the solution to get you back on the road.
The battery keeps getting drained and dying out
ANSWER : Hello. It is possible that the your 2003 Lexus SC430’s computer is draining the battery during the time that it is not being driven. It is never a good idea to let a car sit for extended periods of time without the engine being run or driven.
If this problem only happens after the car has been sitting for a week or so, this may be caused by something else. Running the engine or driving the car may solve the problem. If it does not, it is also possible that there is a problem with the electric/charging system of your car. If the alternator is faulty and overcharging the battery, it may cause the battery to lose its charge faster than it should. Have a certified technician, like one from YourMechanic, come and complete an inspection of the electric system in order to properly diagnose your problem and make the necessary repair.
