no_pulse

I'm pulling my hair out trying to figure out what is draining my battery so fast. I have a 97 Gmc Jimmy, that has 2 kenwood amps and I have a Viper alarm system installed. Some people have said it could be my alarm system draining the battery or my amps not shutting off. Somehow, I can't see a little blue led light flashing (alarm) which would drain my battery after 3 days. And I removed the fuse that connects to my battery that powers my audio system, so I can't see it being my audio system.

I redid my battery ground and power wiring, as well as upgraded to the big 3, but for some reason beyond my comprehension, but battery drains after 3 days.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Killer_klown187

iTrader: (20)

Maybe just the battery is no good? It does happen, and I have seen it on a newer battery as well( where you drained it completely dead two times and it just would not hold a charge at all).

JohnVroom

A simple clamp on ammeter reading will tell if you are drawing power with the engine off. And a little more effort you can find what is doing it... but you know it could be a battery too (but the clamp on would tell you this too).

no_pulse

I bought a digital multimeter a while back, but to be honest, I'm not familar with how to use it. The only thing I know how to use on it properly is to test if the battery is good or dead, and to test continuity.

I bought my exide battery at parts source and went there today with the battery. The tested it and told me that battery is fine. They told me it could be my alt that is causing a drain. But that doesn't account for the drain when my truck is off. I bought digital post terminals that display the voltage on the positive post so I could monitor the battery. It would seem the battery would drop .5 each day. (12.5 one day, 11.9 the next)

I don't think its the battery since I've gone through 3 of them.

JohnVroom

hmm gone through 3 batteries eh... I assume you know why

a clamp on ammeter is special tool that has a piece that kind of looks like a pipe wrench that fits around a current carrying conductor and reads the amount of current flow using EMF. Some DMM have clamp on accessories some DMM have integral units http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...0070921x00003a some are inexpensive but accuracy and certain features will cost you $$.

no_pulse

Actually I don't. I don't know what is causing a massive drain. Not all 3 batteries were from the same company. I first bought another AC Delco battery, then a motor master battery, the last one was an Exide battery.

I assume it's not normal for a battery to completely drain after a day or 2 if it has not run, even with a security system and sound system. A lot of people are trying to tell me that its my audio system, but A) I took out the fuse, and B) the Kinetik HC800 Power Cell that powers my amps. So there should be no power whatsoever powering my audio system.

Canadian_LX

did it happen only after you installed the audio?

[i]con

This happens to my dad's 06' Mustang. After 3-4 days of not being on the road the battery dies. When he phoned ford they denied it, but when he went online alot of ppl where having this problem. The owners all say it is the stock alarm the was draining it. So to curb it my dad went and bought a battry charger. and now he just hooks it up if the cars going to be parked for along time.

Its not a fix, more of a band-aid for a bullet wound

JohnVroom

You know... this drain, and I call it that because your description as you tell more about it sounds like a nice 500 ma draw (more likely the car alarm or a dome light than an amp being left on). it drains the battery to 11.5 volts then to 11 then to 10.5 then you start the car and it recharges the battery but batteries (especially wet cells) have a limited number of times they can be drained before they die an early death. The solution is finding the drain and stopping it (but that suggestion of putting it on a charger would work)

no_pulse

Not to my knowledge, no. But at the time I was driving my truck all the time. It seemed to start when I had a friend install a tach for my truck. The tach lights up whenever I hit the switch for my headlights. But I can't see a tach draining the battery, but then again... And it can't be my headlights, because I am meticulous on making sure they are off and the interior lighting.

I thought it was my stock alarm as well when my battery starting draining. So I had a professional install a Viper alarm. But unfortunately the battery still drained. I just might have to do what your dad did. I bought one of those solar panel battery maintainers, but unfortunately my cigarette lighter and the other ports do not work. I checked the fuse and its fine, so it must be the wiring for the cigarette lighter. Is there something you can attach to the battery to keep it from draining? If I could, I would just disconnect the battery until I needed to use the the truck, but that would defeat the purpose of having an alarm to protect my audio system.

I'm going to a get a clamp on ammeter like you suggested and hopefully find the problem. Do you know of any batteries that can't be drained as easily as a dry cell?

Btw, I appreciate all the help and suggestions everyone