Battery draining

ELLEN-JEAN MITCHELL

MEMBER
2002 CHEVROLET BLAZER
126,000 MILES

I have to get my battery jumped every day, sometimes twice a day. It is a new battery and alternator. I don't know what is draining it.
My radio stopped working about a year ago, then all of a sudden it started working. My interior lights never worked and they now work. I have removed the radio. I took the fuse out for the interior lights but they still work.
I have had this problem for months. It is driving me nuts. Can anyone please help me?
I am homeless and living in the car. I need it to start!

1 Reply

SQM

MECHANIC
6,383 POSTS

Hello,

If you have a good battery and a good alternator but you still need to get jump started, then likely you have a high amount of parasitic draw (current drain) on the battery.
Every electrical circuit with a battery will have some amount of parasitic draw, but it can become excessive due to any number to faulty electrical components. Like a light staying on or a shorted out power seat switch etc.

You will have to find that excess drain on the battery to get this taken care of.

Here is a video that goes over how to find the drain:

https://youtu.be/z5F7WpgjaRs

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

It will also be a good idea to check the output of the alternator to the battery.
The alternator should put out 13.6V to 15.2V to the battery while the engine is running.

https://youtu.be/Z-p4dMJUpUw

Please let me know what you find.
Thank you.