Battery drains within hours to a day after it is jumped?

Tiny
MARCUSTSTAPES
  • MEMBER
  • 2008 CHEVROLET TAHOE
  • 5.3L
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 172,156 MILES
My car battery drains within hours to a day after it is jumped, or AutoZone fully charges my battery. I replaced battery 3 weeks new, alternator and starter 1 week new and alternator 175amp fuse 2 days new. Battery still drains after a few hours to a day later. What could it possibly be?
Monday, September 16th, 2024 AT 8:13 AM

21 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 50,321 POSTS
Yep, I have seen the A/C compressor relay stuck closed and drain the battery on these trucks. Here is the location so you can remove it to see if the drain goes way, also here is a guide you can go over to help you see what other items can cause the battery drain:

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

The A/C relay is under the hood in the main fuse panel. Check out the images (below). Please let us know what happens.

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Monday, September 16th, 2024 AT 2:00 PM
Tiny
MARCUSTSTAPES
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So I charged my battery today to 75%. I just removed the ac compressor relay. I'll post an update tomorrow to see if the battery still drains. But it does explain why every time I disconnect and reconnect the battery, my ac is running even though I never turned it on before disconnecting the battery or jumping the car.
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Monday, September 16th, 2024 AT 5:29 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Yep, you may have found the problem, though I would like to see the battery charged to 100%. Please let me know I am interested.
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Tuesday, September 17th, 2024 AT 8:52 AM
Tiny
MARCUSTSTAPES
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I charged the battery to 100%. I havent put it back in yet, im going to re install when I go to work tonight and see what happens when I get off in the morning. I'll KYP.
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Tuesday, September 17th, 2024 AT 12:20 PM
Tiny
MARCUSTSTAPES
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Also, thanks in advance for all the advice and taking the time to respond to my question and replies.
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Tuesday, September 17th, 2024 AT 12:22 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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No worries, let me know how it goes, I hope that was the problem.
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Tuesday, September 17th, 2024 AT 3:29 PM
Tiny
MARCUSTSTAPES
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  • 13 POSTS
So, I waited two days to see if my battery would die and lo and behold I am once again charging my battery. The A/C compressor relay was blown but the battery is still draining.
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Thursday, September 19th, 2024 AT 12:45 PM
Tiny
MARCUSTSTAPES
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  • 13 POSTS
So, my next process of elimination is im going to replace the BCM. I cleaned the corrosion from the battery terminals. Replaced the fuses and still its draining.
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Thursday, September 19th, 2024 AT 12:59 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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How old is the battery? Also, are any lights on like the glove box light? It could just be a defective battery.
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Friday, September 20th, 2024 AT 9:35 AM
Tiny
MARCUSTSTAPES
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Battery is one month old, starter 3 wks old, alternator 3 wks old, 175amp fuse 2 wks old, ac compressor fuse relay, 1 wk old.
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Friday, September 20th, 2024 AT 6:21 PM
Tiny
MARCUSTSTAPES
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No lights are left on. I double and triple checked just to be sure. I reconditioned the battery with my battery charger for about 8 hours after charging it up. I just may have to suck it up and take it to a shop.
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Friday, September 20th, 2024 AT 6:25 PM
Tiny
MARCUSTSTAPES
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This morning about 20 minutes ago, I heard my battery dying. I was sitting in my truck and all of a sudden the electronics started going crazy. I heard ticking coming from my door locks, it ticked like my. Hazards were on but the flashers never came up on the cluster. My ac unit lit up but never came on. And it was
just a constant and rapid clicking from everywhere as I heard I get lower and lower until the battery finally died.
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Saturday, September 21st, 2024 AT 4:38 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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It sounds like the battery is defective, is the alternator warm when the engine is cold? If so the alternator is causing the problem.
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Saturday, September 21st, 2024 AT 10:52 AM
Tiny
MARCUSTSTAPES
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Well, the alternator isnt warm, but I do remember now that the battery was very warm to the touch. It almost felt swollen to the point of exploding. I was almost scared to put it on the charger. But I put it under ventillation and did the reconditioning after charging it up. I feel like my BCM is bad too. Ill be replacing it soon too.
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Saturday, September 21st, 2024 AT 3:20 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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The battery is bad, please be careful with it, they can explode, install a new battery.
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Sunday, September 22nd, 2024 AT 10:06 AM
Tiny
MARCUSTSTAPES
  • MEMBER
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The battery is definitely bad. Also after driving this morning, I went to disconnect the battery and noticed the alternator was hot to the touch. So I deduced that the voltage regulator is either going out or has already gone out. So im ordering a new one from Covert Chevrolet. He said it should be next day delivery.
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Monday, September 23rd, 2024 AT 8:11 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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If you are driving it with the bad battery then the alternator will be hot.
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Monday, September 23rd, 2024 AT 9:33 AM
Tiny
MARCUSTSTAPES
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Oh. I'm still replacing the BCM, the voltage regulator and battery. Will the bad battery affect anything? I'll replace the battery in a few days. And also, I'm hoping to set up a dual battery configuration. Is that a good idea considering it's only factory accessories that's in the vehicle, besides the aftermarket radio?
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Monday, September 23rd, 2024 AT 12:08 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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I would replace the battery ASAP before something bad happens. Yes, a dual battery set up will help with the voltage load of accessories. Like I said a battery can explode when it is in this condition. Do not make spark around the battery and wear protective eyewear and gloves, if you don't feel codifiable AAA will come out and change the battery for you.
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Monday, September 23rd, 2024 AT 1:26 PM
Tiny
MARCUSTSTAPES
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Okay, it will be changed very soon. Thanks a lot.
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Monday, September 23rd, 2024 AT 4:19 PM

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