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[birdjo]

I think i got it.

It was intermittent. Wednesday i hooked my meter in circuit and it was screaming at 3 amps! I was so excited lol. Also I heard a distinct clicking/popping sound near the alternator/cruise control area ever time i disconnected/connected the battery. I couldn’t isolate the noise so i start pulling fuses under the hood and I make way to the MG CLutch AC relay and boom the amps drop. I replaced the relay ($12) and i have been monitoring the battery daily. Hasn’t dropped below 12.55 volts yet even after letting it sit 24 hours.

Thanks everyone for the help. I learned alot thru this problem. Now on to a wheel bearing in the wife’s car. It never ends!

Joe

[birdjo]

Update: I bought a battery/charging system monitor that plugs into the cigerette lighter from Harbor Frieght. While driving I notice the charging system will drop to around 12.3-12.5 volts. When the car is running in Park it stays at 14+ volts. Normal??? Could that run that battery down over a week or so?

I did some research and learned my honda has a ELD (electronic load detector) that will turn the alternator off while there is no electrical load (the thought being to increase MPG). Could this be part of my problem with an aftermarket rebuilt alternator from the autoparts store (on the car for 6 months no issues)?

While driving with the lights on the system reads around 14 volts. Im going to drive with my lights on and make sure my battery is fully charged and see if it goes dead while sitting this weekend. I like this in car charging system monitor.

I feel like im jumping all over the place on this post from battery- to parasitic drain- to alternator. Sorry for that. I just never had a problem like this. If i have to resort to disconnecting and slow charging the battery every few days I guess its not the end of the world.

Thanks everyone.

[birdjo]

Update: I bought a battery/charging system monitor that plugs into the cigerette lighter from Harbor Frieght. While driving I notice the charging system will drop to around 12.3-12.5 volts. When the car is running in Park it stays at 14+ volts. Normal??? Could that run that battery down over a week or so?

I did some research and learned my honda has a ELD (electronic load detector) that will turn the alternator off while there is no electrical load (the thought being to increase MPG). Could this be part of my problem with an aftermarket rebuilt alternator from the autoparts store (on the car for 6 months no issues)?

While driving with the lights on the system reads around 14 volts. Im going to drive with my lights on and make sure my battery is fully charged and see if it goes dead while sitting this weekend. I like this in car charging system monitor.

I feel like im jumping all over the place on this post from battery- to parasitic drain- to alternator. Sorry for that. I just never had a problem like this. If i have to resort to disconnecting and slow charging the battery every few days I guess its not the end of the world.

Thanks everyone.

[birdjo]

Update: I bought a battery/charging system monitor that plugs into the cigerette lighter from Harbor Frieght. While driving I notice the charging system will drop to around 12.3-12.5 volts. When the car is running in Park it stays at 14+ volts. Normal??? Could that run that battery down over a week or so?

I did some research and learned my honda has a ELD (electronic load detector) that will turn the alternator off while there is no electrical load (the thought being to increase MPG). Could this be part of my problem with an aftermarket rebuilt alternator from the autoparts store (on the car for 6 months no issues)?

While driving with the lights on the system reads around 14 volts. Im going to drive with my lights on and make sure my battery is fully charged and see if it goes dead while sitting this weekend. I like this in car charging system monitor.

I feel like im jumping all over the place on this post from battery- to parasitic drain- to alternator. Sorry for that. I just never had a problem like this. If i have to resort to disconnecting and slow charging the battery every few days I guess its not the end of the world.

Thanks everyone.

[birdjo]

Update:

Second opinion via Advance says the battery and alternator are good.

I read that the fan relays can go bad and cause a battery drain. Not sure if that would show up on a drain test? Maybe intermittent? Other than pulling them off and shaking them for noise I do not know how to test for bad relays? For 20-30 bucks I might just replace them.

I also think it could be heater system related as I am noticed today the battery drained and others days this week it didn’t and the difference was I left the heat in the “on” position when i shut the car off.

Maybe it doesn’t like Thursdays? Always tries to go dead on Thursday. Going to troubleshoot this weekend some more although I am getting used to slow charging the battery after work. I’m going to figure this out.

Stay Dirty

[birdjo]

Update:

Second opinion via Advance says the battery and alternator are good.

I read that the fan relays can go bad and cause a battery drain. Not sure if that would show up on a drain test? Maybe intermittent? Other than pulling them off and shaking them for noise I do not know how to test for bad relays? For 20-30 bucks I might just replace them.

I also think it could be heater system related as I am noticed today the battery drained and others days this week it didn’t and the difference was I left the heat in the “on” position when i shut the car off.

Maybe it doesn’t like Thursdays? Always tries to go dead on Thursday. Going to troubleshoot this weekend some more although I am getting used to slow charging the battery after work. I’m going to figure this out.

Stay Dirty

[birdjo]

Update:

Second opinion via Advance says the battery and alternator are good.

I read that the fan relays can go bad and cause a battery drain. Not sure if that would show up on a drain test? Maybe intermittent? Other than pulling them off and shaking them for noise I do not know how to test for bad relays? For 20-30 bucks I might just replace them.

I also think it could be heater system related as I am noticed today the battery drained and others days this week it didn’t and the difference was I left the heat in the “on” position when i shut the car off.

Maybe it doesn’t like Thursdays? Always tries to go dead on Thursday. Going to troubleshoot this weekend some more although I am getting used to slow charging the battery after work. I’m going to figure this out.

Stay Dirty

[birdjo]

With multimeter in circuit between the negative battery post and the negative battery wire I get .08 AMPS for the first 14 seconds and than .02 AMPS and holds constant. This is within normal range correct?

THanks JOe

[birdjo]

With multimeter in circuit between the negative battery post and the negative battery wire I get .08 AMPS for the first 14 seconds and than .02 AMPS and holds constant. This is within normal range correct?

THanks JOe

[birdjo]

With multimeter in circuit between the negative battery post and the negative battery wire I get .08 AMPS for the first 14 seconds and than .02 AMPS and holds constant. This is within normal range correct?

THanks JOe

[birdjo]

Thanks for the quick responses. I will re check for a draw. It seems like it might be an intermittent draw, sometimes off sometimes on.

I will also let the battery sit unplugged after being fully charged. Its a new battery from walmart and has tested good, but I willing to try anything at this point. Wife wants me to sell my baby and I only cracked 130K miles on it!

[birdjo]

Thanks for the quick responses. I will re check for a draw. It seems like it might be an intermittent draw, sometimes off sometimes on.

I will also let the battery sit unplugged after being fully charged. Its a new battery from walmart and has tested good, but I willing to try anything at this point. Wife wants me to sell my baby and I only cracked 130K miles on it!

[birdjo]

Thanks for the quick responses. I will re check for a draw. It seems like it might be an intermittent draw, sometimes off sometimes on.

I will also let the battery sit unplugged after being fully charged. Its a new battery from walmart and has tested good, but I willing to try anything at this point. Wife wants me to sell my baby and I only cracked 130K miles on it!

[Author]

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