Battery goes dead?

Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,874 POSTS
If you're referring to the starter solenoid, forget that, it's cranking okay with a jump-start so you know that is working.

First measure the battery voltage with the engine running and no jumper cables connected to another car unless its engine is off. You must find between 13.75 and 14.75 volts. If it is low, check for a blown blue 15 amp fuse under the hood on the passenger side. If it is okay, measure the voltages on the green, yellow, and fat output wires and holler back with those numbers.

I'll be out of town helping a friend rebuild smashed cars at his body shop. I'll be back tonight to check for your reply.
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Monday, December 21st, 2020 AT 10:50 AM (Merged)
Tiny
LUCIDBLUE3
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
  • 1993 FORD EXPLORER
Electrical problem
1993 Ford Explorer 6 cyl Four Wheel Drive Automatic

The main question I have is will my battery drain if the cables are loose? I am having a problem holding a charge in my car. It will run just fine for 2 days, but the third day I go out there it's dead. I just had it checked at the mechanic said it wasn't the Alternator, or the battery. They said there is a draw coming from my car. I am having transmission problems, and head gasket problems. I am pretty sure I can replace the pieces for the head gasket, but on a scale from 1-10 I am trying to find out how hard it would be. I have replaced MANY things in this car before. I CAN NOT and WILL NOT touch a transmission. Any suggestions on those two questions?
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Monday, December 21st, 2020 AT 10:50 AM (Merged)
Tiny
OBXAUTOMEDIC
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,711 POSTS
Hello,

Yes, if your cables are loose and corroded it can cause a draw on the battery. One way to find were the draw is is to have a test light in hand, remove the positive cable from the battery, connect the test light between the cable end and the terminal. If the light comes on you have a draw, and the brighter the light the bigger the draw.

Then what you do is start pulling fuses one at a time checking the light with each pull, once the light goes off that is the circuit the draw is on.

Now as far as the tranny problem. I had a 94 that I thought had a tranny problem along with a blown head gasket. Well fix head gasket and guess what is also fixed the tranny problem.

So, I would get the head gasket fixed and see what happens with the tranny.

.
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Monday, December 21st, 2020 AT 10:50 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MTCAIME
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  • 13 POSTS
PERFORME A LOAD TEST SOMETHING IS STAYING ON LIKE UNDERHOOD LIGHT, RADIO, GLOVEBOX LIGHT SOMETHING.
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Monday, December 21st, 2020 AT 10:50 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ADHORN
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1992 FORD EXPLORER
  • 4.0L
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • MANUAL
  • 69,000 MILES
My battery drains after just 2 to 3 hours or maybe more this just came up all of a sudden I stopped driving it 1 day and it draind the battery then I jumped it and drove it and ran it for a hour and a half it was fine for a while then it did it again I now have it parked in my back yard I just umped it for the like 15th timei checked it every 2 to 3 hours it was fine started right up then I went and checked it just 2 mins ago it has been 2 hours and it wont start its draing as I write this its not complete dead but I have took off the neg bat wire and it stays running I have tryed turning off the toggle switch for the sfter market remote start and lock/unlock this is driving me crazy im low on money and I need my suv back please help sorry for a long speel
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Monday, December 21st, 2020 AT 10:50 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,937 POSTS
You need to do a current draw test, with key off and doors closed attach a amp meter between battery pos and battery pos terminal, this will show amp draw with every thing off, you will need to let is sit in this mode for about 20 min for all the systems to "go to sleep" you should only see about.1-.3 amps being drawn down, anything above.5 is way to much, to help identify what circuit is faulty, start pulling fuses one at a time and watch for any sudden drop in the draw rate, this will be the circuit that is causing our problem, and the starting pint to find the actual issue.
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+1
Monday, December 21st, 2020 AT 10:50 AM (Merged)
Tiny
LD58TU
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1991 FORD EXPLORER
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 221,000 MILES
I bought a 1991 ford explorer for my son. When you drive it for a bit it takes all the juice from the battery and will not restart for about a few hours and then will start up. It acts like there is not enough juice to turn it over. I have replaced the battery and had the alternator checked and both are fine.
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Monday, December 21st, 2020 AT 10:50 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
Do the lights dim as you drive? Get a voltmeter and hook it up to the battery, star the truck, note the voltage at idle, then turn on all your accessories, heater wipers rear defogger, voltage should remain at 13.8 - 14.8. If thats ggod, your starter may be weak, the heat from the engine may be affecting it. Or the timing is advanced a bit too far.
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Monday, December 21st, 2020 AT 10:50 AM (Merged)
Tiny
GUNS321
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1991 FORD EXPLORER
I have a 1991 Ford explorer that I having a problem with. I have narrowed it down to the fuse control panel on the left side of the engine compartment.
It will drain the battery if let sit for a couple of days without starting, short time when its cold. I'm getting an arch of the both battery post when I take them on and off which tells me there is a drain somewhere. If I take the fuse out of the emmission contol slot on the panel it does not drain. I replace it and its starts right off. Its a hugh pain to do this day after day tho.

Anyone have any ideas for me.
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Monday, December 21st, 2020 AT 10:51 AM (Merged)
Tiny
PEPPERMRJ
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,158 POSTS
Do you have a manual with a circuit diagram. How about the owners manual. Ou need to check what components the fuse protects and look at each individually. I would look for a bare wire shorting on one of the compomemets.

Good hunting. Let us know.
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Monday, December 21st, 2020 AT 10:51 AM (Merged)

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