Battery drains out

BOBBYBYRD

MEMBER
2003 CHEVROLET TRACKER
1.5L
6 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
132,000 MILES

Yesterday on the way home, my battery lite came on and off. When I got home it stayed on so I cut car off and started it. It was fine. This morning I tried to start it and the battery was completely dead so I put a new battery in it and started it. I let it idle for about twenty five seconds then revved it up a little. The battery lite came on every time I revved it up and went off when it was idling. I cut car off and checked connections. I tried to start it but the battery was so drained that no lights or alarms would work. No noise at all. What could completely drain a new battery in less than one minute?

3 Replies

KEN L

MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
47,513 POSTS

This sounds like it can be one of two problems, either you have a battery cable that is going bad, I would guess positive or the alternator is having a problem.

Here are two guides that will help you do a test and then change the unit out if it is bad:

As far as the battery cable look for bulging at either end which means it has corrosion.

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

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-an-alternator

Please let us know what happens so it will help others.

Cheers, Ken

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Monday, September 4th, 2017 AT 2:11 PM

BOBBYBYRD

MEMBER
2 POSTS
2003 CHEVROLET TRACKER
6 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
132,000 MILES

The battery in my car is about two years and six months old. The battery light came on when I was driving home and kept blinking on and off. When I got home I cut my car off and tried to start it. It started fine. The next morning I tried to start my car but the battery was so drained that no alarms nor lights worked and no noise at all. I put a new battery in it and started it. I let it run about twenty five seconds then revved the motor a little. When I rev the motor the battery light comes on but goes off. When I let the motor idle I cut the car off and checked the connection but when I tried to start it, the new battery was so drained that no lights or alarms worked and it made no noise, not even a click, when I tried to start it. What could have drained the new battery in less than a minute with the car running?

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Tuesday, September 5th, 2017 AT 3:13 PM (Merged)

CJ MEDEVAC

MECHANIC
11,004 POSTS

Not having hands on there with you.

Check my link out below (cannot hurt).

https://www.2carpros.com/questions/1996-chevrolet-tahoe-wont-start-sounds-dead-battery-jumpbox-get-same-reults

If you can get him a running', let's test the alternator. See this link from the top of our page under "repair guides".

https://www.2carpros.com/questions/1996-chevrolet-tahoe-wont-start-sounds-dead-battery-jumpbox-get-same-reults

Other things could keep a "good" alternator from charging the battery such as loose connections/fuses/fusible links.

Keep us posted.

The Medic

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