Battery drains itself, where to start looking?

[b0mbrman]

Hi there,

My girlfriend woke up this morning to find that her car wouldn't start. I gave it a jump and it started fine. She drove around for about fifteen minutes, went inside to eat and the car wouldn't start again.

As for some background, her car is relatively new and has never done this before, she changed her battery recently and just finished a 300-mile road
trip.

So any help? I can do some basic stuff with cars but I really don't know where to start. Any help?

 

[marquee]

i like cornbread

 

Listen carefuully, here's what you do ;

First thing, disconnect the negative battery cable with the ignition key removed from the ignition, attach either a volt/ohm meter or a test light between the negative battery cable and the negative terminal of the battery.
If you have a short or there is a large drain, the light will light or the ohm meter (set to amps) will show the drain.
Now, disconnect one fuse at a time until the drain disappears, then look up in your owners manual as to what that fuse protects, you can then trace those circuits to find the short/drain.

Got that ?

 

[Brutuskend]

Good advice Roger!

 

[b0mbrman]

Originally posted by: marquee
i like cornbread

Me too...Have you ever had cornbread of the sassy variety?

http://www.pepperfool.com/recipes/bread/hot_sassy.html

Not so good with honey butter but very good with chili or jambalaya

 

[b0mbrman]

Originally posted by: Roger
Listen carefuully, here's what you do ;

First thing, disconnect the negative battery cable with the ignition key removed from the ignition, attach either a volt/ohm meter or a test light between the negative battery cable and the negative terminal of the battery.
If you have a short or there is a large drain, the light will light or the ohm meter (set to amps) will show the drain.
Now, disconnect one fuse at a time until the drain disappears, then look up in your owners manual as to what that fuse protects, you can then trace those circuits to find the short/drain.

Got that ?

I think so...I'll pull out the trusty old multimeter (Link) and check 'er out. Thanks.

 

Oops, forgot to mention, make sure that all the doors are closed (the interior light will show up as a drain), also unscrew the under hood light if you have one

 

[Ogg]

Originally posted by: b0mbrman

Originally posted by: marquee
i like cornbread

Me too...Have you ever had cornbread of the sassy variety?

http://www.pepperfool.com/recipes/bread/hot_sassy.html

Not so good with honey butter but very good with chili or jambalaya

Nice, if its not this sexy type cornbread, then I like my plain cornbread sweet with just a little sugar added in to it.:beer:

 

[hevnsnt]

Great advice from Roger..

Also, check to make sure your battery just doesn't need some water. If it does use distilled and fill that puppy up.

AND...

Batterys die. Just like everything else it is a fact of life. I get my batteries from walmart, because of the return policy they have.

 

[Brutuskend]

BTW: Has she had a different stereo installed?

If so, I would start there!