Dead Car???

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Sat Jan 15, 05 7:09 pm

Hi All

just tried starting my 75 Coronet - absolutely dead!

When you put the key in nothing lights up on the dash at all - let alone starts.

I have tried replacing the battery earth lead, as that was in a very bad way, but it hasn't helped.

I could jump start the car ok, but a couple of days later it would be completely dead again...

Is it likely I have a dodgy relay somewhere or is the bettery some how discharging itself?

It is a brand new battery btw.

Help - any suggestions???

Thanks

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Sat Jan 15, 05 7:10 pm

*battery

damn these long shifts at work!!

Kev · Post by **Kev** » Sat Jan 15, 05 7:19 pm

Have you got a trunk light or underhood light? These sometimes stay on and drain yer battery.

Alex · Post by **Alex** » Sat Jan 15, 05 7:35 pm

Very simple but effective test for drain...

Charge battery, connect +ve terminal as normal, find a 5 watt or close bulb and holder, connect bulb between -ve terminal of battery and lead, if it lights you have a drain, do not forget to take into account clocks etc, the brighter the bulb the bigger the drain.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Sat Jan 15, 05 7:40 pm

thanks Alex

What a simple way to test

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Sat Jan 15, 05 7:42 pm

Kev

no lights in trunk or underhood, and the clock doesn't work....

I'll have a good nose round tmorrow during the day....I'm hoping I find a loose wire somwhere.....

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Sat Jan 15, 05 9:10 pm

make sure battery is decent make, and make sure stereo wiring (if u have one) is right as some stereos draw power even when off if the ACC in is on batt live for instance.

had a battery drain prob on the plymouth once, turned out to be the ignition key illuminating lamp sticking on ! could hardly even see it it is so small

Will

PS this is gonna sound very patronising but im gonna say it anyway, if the ignition swithc is worn its possibt to take the key out when it is turned all the way to the left (IE acc position) but one doenst notice because on a normal car , hard left is off.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Sun Jan 16, 05 12:41 am

Have you tried starting it in neutral? My car has taken an intermittent dislike to Park and sometimes it's just dead but whack it into N and it's fine.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Sun Jan 16, 05 7:08 pm

Right, had a little tinker with it.

Starts ok in P or N with a jump - the battery is dead so now on charge.

I had a thought after I had come in that it might be a possibilty that the lights and/or siren might be draining it - I can't see how as they are not left on (obviously) but the wiring is bad, so that might be worth testing.

I'll put a meter on it during the week and see....

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Sun Jan 16, 05 7:12 pm

Have fun, you'll be enjoying countless hours of chasing bad wiring!

Holly · Post by **Holly** » Sun Jan 16, 05 7:29 pm

Well, I've got new starter fitted and everything bolted together ... and I've got a dead battery, too! ho hum ...

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Sun Jan 16, 05 8:03 pm

I really hate when people use insulating tape to join wires - arrrrghh!!

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Mon Jan 17, 05 4:19 pm

Hi All

is there any quick way to check whether my alternator is working ok?

Thanks 8)

Rich · Post by **Rich** » Mon Jan 17, 05 7:01 pm

Use your trusty multi meter on 0-20 volts DC,put the probes on the 2 battery terminals and hope to see 13.5 + volts.If you do see that, then put the +ve probe on the output terminal on the alternator(the one with the big/heavy lead on it)and if you still see 13.5 ish then its OK.If you have 13.5 at the alt and not at the battery then there is a problem with the wiring between the batt and the alt.
Worth a go!!

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Wed Jan 19, 05 11:59 am

Will has quite a point there, it happened on my Charger, key could be removed from ign barrel in the accesory position and my heater fan would still be running and drain the battery over night. Another argument against heaters!!
"Very simple but errective test for drain..." - is that the right word Alex?!! I know working on these cars can be very exciting!