Battery drain, possible issue with alternator?

Good afternoon,

Do you have a volt meter to check the voltage at the battery with the engine running?

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-a-car-alternator

The charge rate needs to be 14 to 14.5 volts. The battery voltage with the key off should be 12.6 volts.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-battery-load-test

Is the battery light on?

Roy

Okay, that tells me you have a charging system failure.

You can get a cheap voltmeter at a parts store to do the checks.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-use-a-voltmeter

Also, check the fuses. it may have a failed fuse. If it does, the alternator may be the cause of the failure.

Roy

I would confirm it first to be sure it is not anything else.

It is most likely the issue but I do not guess. I like to diagnose once and repair once. Guessing is expensive if it is the wrong part.

Roy

Tell him to verify power to the back of the alternator from the battery.

Have him check all the fuses with a test light for power on both sides.

Roy

You are welcome.

Always glad to help.

Roy

Replacing the OEM deck with aftermarket should fix the problem. Just make sure that you use wiring harness to connect your new radio to the car, instead cutting and splicing wires together. This guide can help us

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-battery-dead-overnight

let us know

Most install shop will use wiring harness.

Good luck.

Tracing current drain is very PITA. You are at the right direction though. Here is what I would if I were you on a day that you are off from work.

Get yourself a DVOM )digital volt/ohm meter).

It is about $15 from you local parts store or even Walmart... 1. Set it to check voltage at DCV V20 (checking DC voltage at around 20 volts).
2. Remove both battery terminals. Check battery voltage without any current draw. Write in a piece of paper. Now you have your base voltage. For example: Battery - no load - 12.65 volts
3. Attach both battery terminals. Check and write down voltage. Battery with terminals attached - 12.48 volts. Subtract this number from your base: 12.65 - 12.48 = 0.17 volts. Now you know, you have 0.17 volts of parasitic current draw.
4. Now, under the hood, you should have (if I remember right) 3 different fuse/relay boxes. Pull a fuse/relay one at a time. Write down what fuse or relay you pull, and check the voltage. Do this until you have tested every circuitry under the hood. If there is no change in the voltage, continue to the fuse box under the dash, left side.
5. You will find one fuse or relay that will give your battery voltage higher than 12.48 volts. Usually a fuse controls one or more circuits. At least now you can concentrate your energy on that particular circuit.

Good luck....

How long it takes to the battery to run out of power?
I suggest you to disconnect the alarm system and see if that solve the problem, the thing is that the new vehicles come with all kind of electronic devices that any of them could fail to ground with a resistance and " eat " The batttery in no time.

Best regards

But when left for a day or more it will not crank

You have an electrical short that is more than the normal draw for memories-such a radio/clock etc, that's draining the battery overnite.

You might want to do another load testing on the battery and alternator to confirm that its functioning correctly.