Why could a car battery be dying?
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This is a public service question on behalf of a friend. Her Nissan Micra has got through 3 batteries in the last 7 months. She has had a new alternator fitted and non-visible lights like boot/trunk and license plate lights checked. She uses the car for long journeys (300 mile roundtrips) so it should be getting charged properly. Now facing the 4th replacement battery - what could be causing them to drain every 2-3 months?
David Wulff The Royal Woofle Museum
Everybody is entitled to my opinion
She doesn't make a habit of leaving her lights on so she can find her house key in the dark does she? ;) Seriously, there could be just about anything... a moderate-resistance short between a wire and the chassis, a low-resistance light bulb, power-hungry radio that doesn't go into standby properly. How old is the car?
Ryan
"Punctuality is only a virtue for those who aren't smart enough to think of good excuses for being late" John Nichol "Point Of Impact"
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This is a public service question on behalf of a friend. Her Nissan Micra has got through 3 batteries in the last 7 months. She has had a new alternator fitted and non-visible lights like boot/trunk and license plate lights checked. She uses the car for long journeys (300 mile roundtrips) so it should be getting charged properly. Now facing the 4th replacement battery - what could be causing them to drain every 2-3 months?
David Wulff The Royal Woofle Museum
Everybody is entitled to my opinion
Does she start the car with the AC running (I've been advised against doing that)? Nish
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This is a public service question on behalf of a friend. Her Nissan Micra has got through 3 batteries in the last 7 months. She has had a new alternator fitted and non-visible lights like boot/trunk and license plate lights checked. She uses the car for long journeys (300 mile roundtrips) so it should be getting charged properly. Now facing the 4th replacement battery - what could be causing them to drain every 2-3 months?
David Wulff The Royal Woofle Museum
Everybody is entitled to my opinion
It could be a bad starter solenoid, too. I had this problem with my old Taurus where the batter wouldn't get a charge off the alternator. TAKE EXTREME PRECAUTION There is a hell of a lot of juice flowing through that solenoid. I accidentally dropped a screwdriver and arched two of the contacts. The metal shaft is missing a chunk with slight melted edges where a piece was blown out. It's a good thing I wasn't hanging onto it. Make sure the battery is completed disconnected. If possible, have a professional test and replace it. Again, though, this is only yet one of many possibilities. A professional mechanic is always the best person to consult (especially when they're a friend and probably won't charge you for just looking at it!). This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights. Software Design Engineer Developer Division Sustained Engineering Microsoft [My Articles] [My Blog]
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This is a public service question on behalf of a friend. Her Nissan Micra has got through 3 batteries in the last 7 months. She has had a new alternator fitted and non-visible lights like boot/trunk and license plate lights checked. She uses the car for long journeys (300 mile roundtrips) so it should be getting charged properly. Now facing the 4th replacement battery - what could be causing them to drain every 2-3 months?
David Wulff The Royal Woofle Museum
Everybody is entitled to my opinion
I don't think the battery is dying. I can believe bad luck would involve to bad batteries, but not more than that. If this model car had a problem I think I would have heard of that. Therefore it is not the battery, so don't repalce the battery until you fix the problem. It could be a bad regulator, which could kill the battery, but that would just kill the next one. (in most but not all cases the regulator is part of the alternator) If not that, then start checking cables. A cable that doesn't have good contect (even though it looks good) can cause problems. One clue of this is the dome light is on bright when you open the car door, but you can't start the car. (though I find it unlikely that you could fix this with a new battery) My guess is the problem is in the charging area. Check the voltage when the car is off, then again when it is running. Check at the alternator (careful, there are moving parts and many places to ruin the alternator if you cause a short!) too.
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You're not saying why you actually swap the batteries. Main reasons for dead batteries: - Sulphurization = crystals on the plates. Caused by continued charging and discharging. (Battery can be regenerated) - Positive grid corrosion. Usually from overcharging. Also from heat. - Vibrations. Have you checked if the battery is discharging, and if the alternator is working as it should? - Mort
Her car has spent more time in the garage being checked than it has on her drive of late. AFAIK the alternator should be working correctly - it was replaced and has been checked again and again.
Ðavid Wulff The Royal Woofle Museum
Everybody is entitled to my opinion
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You need to post a little more info. Like Morten asked. A) Between battery replacements have you had to jump the car to start it? B) Does the battery no longer holds a charge after 2-3 months. With option A being rare. If A is happening all of the time, then you have a slow drain. I have seen small lights as you state and things like the ignition that did not completely turn off, and one time a radio that was drawing to much current even when turned off. If Not A but B. Then most likely over charging. What is the voltage when the car is running? A second cause to B is a loose battery cable. This would generally show up with corrosion build up on the terminals of the cables to the battery. I do not mind getting old. It beats all the other options that can think of.
Michael A. Barnhart wrote: A) Between battery replacements have you had to jump the car to start it? I will ask. From what I gather the car runs fine and then one day the battery is dead and that's it. Michael A. Barnhart wrote: B) Does the battery no longer holds a charge after 2-3 months. With option A being rare. Pending A, yes, it no longer holds charge. The garage tests the batteries and aren't able to recharge them anymore. They are being killed by something. How does one find out the volage the car runs at? I fear if I ask I will get the answer "unleaded". :)
Ðavid Wulff The Royal Woofle Museum
Everybody is entitled to my opinion
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She doesn't make a habit of leaving her lights on so she can find her house key in the dark does she? ;) Seriously, there could be just about anything... a moderate-resistance short between a wire and the chassis, a low-resistance light bulb, power-hungry radio that doesn't go into standby properly. How old is the car?
Ryan
"Punctuality is only a virtue for those who aren't smart enough to think of good excuses for being late" John Nichol "Point Of Impact"
Ryan Binns wrote: She doesn't make a habit of leaving her lights on so she can find her house key in the dark does she? I really wouldn't put anything past her, but I know in this case she doesn't. :) I will pass on the info about the radio. She doesn't use it so she could have it disconnected and see if it still drains. Ryan Binns wrote: How old is the car? F reg. I do not know what year this is, I never figured out how to read them.
Ðavid Wulff The Royal Woofle Museum
Everybody is entitled to my opinion
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Does she start the car with the AC running (I've been advised against doing that)? Nish
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It could be a bad starter solenoid, too. I had this problem with my old Taurus where the batter wouldn't get a charge off the alternator. TAKE EXTREME PRECAUTION There is a hell of a lot of juice flowing through that solenoid. I accidentally dropped a screwdriver and arched two of the contacts. The metal shaft is missing a chunk with slight melted edges where a piece was blown out. It's a good thing I wasn't hanging onto it. Make sure the battery is completed disconnected. If possible, have a professional test and replace it. Again, though, this is only yet one of many possibilities. A professional mechanic is always the best person to consult (especially when they're a friend and probably won't charge you for just looking at it!). This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights. Software Design Engineer Developer Division Sustained Engineering Microsoft [My Articles] [My Blog]
Heath Stewart wrote: Again, though, this is only yet one of many possibilities. A professional mechanic is always the best person to consult (especially when they're a friend and probably won't charge you for just looking at it!). She has her local mechanic look at it, service it, etc, and I think he gives her a good deal. I will ask that she takes it to another mechanic for a second opinion to see if that throws up any new flags. I will pass on the info about the starter solenoid, thanks.
Ðavid Wulff The Royal Woofle Museum
Everybody is entitled to my opinion
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I don't think the battery is dying. I can believe bad luck would involve to bad batteries, but not more than that. If this model car had a problem I think I would have heard of that. Therefore it is not the battery, so don't repalce the battery until you fix the problem. It could be a bad regulator, which could kill the battery, but that would just kill the next one. (in most but not all cases the regulator is part of the alternator) If not that, then start checking cables. A cable that doesn't have good contect (even though it looks good) can cause problems. One clue of this is the dome light is on bright when you open the car door, but you can't start the car. (though I find it unlikely that you could fix this with a new battery) My guess is the problem is in the charging area. Check the voltage when the car is off, then again when it is running. Check at the alternator (careful, there are moving parts and many places to ruin the alternator if you cause a short!) too.
Henry miller wrote: Therefore it is not the battery, so don't repalce the battery until you fix the problem. The batteries are checked by the garage (and the mechanic is her friend) and they are unable to hold charge. Henry miller wrote: It could be a bad regulator, which could kill the battery, but that would just kill the next one. (in most but not all cases the regulator is part of the alternator) 'k, I will ask if the regulator is part of the alternator on that model, which has been replaced and then checked a number of times since. Henry miller wrote: My guess is the problem is in the charging area. Check the voltage when the car is off, then again when it is running I'll pass it all on.
Ðavid Wulff The Royal Woofle Museum
Everybody is entitled to my opinion
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Michael A. Barnhart wrote: A) Between battery replacements have you had to jump the car to start it? I will ask. From what I gather the car runs fine and then one day the battery is dead and that's it. Michael A. Barnhart wrote: B) Does the battery no longer holds a charge after 2-3 months. With option A being rare. Pending A, yes, it no longer holds charge. The garage tests the batteries and aren't able to recharge them anymore. They are being killed by something. How does one find out the volage the car runs at? I fear if I ask I will get the answer "unleaded". :)
Ðavid Wulff The Royal Woofle Museum
Everybody is entitled to my opinion
David Wulff wrote: How does one find out the volage the car runs at? That is voltage. With a volt meter. I thought everyone had a few (sorry). A typical 12 volt system will read 13.5 to 14 if everything is fine. As Henry points out the regulator could be bad. Is so you may be running at 16-17 volts and that will kill the battery. I do not mind getting old. It beats all the other options that can think of.