Constantly having to jump start?

Tiny
DOUBLETROUBLE
  • MEMBER
  • 2010 NISSAN MURANO
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 150,000 MILES
Had an incident a few months ago where I was driving and all of a sudden, the car lost power, I mean you could push the pedal to the floor, and it wouldn't respond and then it shut off. Ended up getting it to the shop and mechanic couldn't replicate the issue, car ran fine for him. Got in to go home got two blocks and it did it again. The mechanic came and towed car ack to the shop. I don't remember why but somehow it was the alternator so that was replaced. Drove fine for about a month and happened again. The mechanic said a bad alternator, something about pigtail wire had burnt. Anyway, he replaced the alternator at no charge. Long story short he has replaced that alternator three different times and this last time he got an alternator from Nissan. My problem is with a new alternator and battery is why am I having to use my portable jumper every time I start my car?
Monday, July 24th, 2023 AT 2:12 PM

7 Replies

Tiny
BORIS K
  • MECHANIC
  • 799 POSTS
Hello,

It sounds like you either have a bad battery or a possible current draw when the vehicle is turned off, draining the battery.

A few good links:
https://www.2carpros.com/articles/symptoms-of-a-bad-car-battery
and
https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-battery-load-test

A good video how to load test a battery:
https://youtu.be/oHTbC73FAgU

If the battery fails the load test first connect a battery charger and fully charge the battery, then repeat the load test. If the battery fails again then suspect a faulty battery

A good video on how to check for battery current draw:
https://youtu.be/B1moJh5HpyY

For this you will need to use a voltmeter.

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

Hope this helps.

Cheers, Boris
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Tuesday, July 25th, 2023 AT 1:54 AM
Tiny
DOUBLETROUBLE
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
This helps a lot because I actually have two cars that I have suspected of having a current draw for a while now but had no clue how to check for it. I am going to have my batteries charged up today and run that test, I'll let you know what I find out.
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Tuesday, July 25th, 2023 AT 6:39 AM
Tiny
BORIS K
  • MECHANIC
  • 799 POSTS
Hello,

Let us know if you need any further information.

Cheers, Boris
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Tuesday, July 25th, 2023 AT 6:48 AM
Tiny
DOUBLETROUBLE
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
My 2008 Infiniti G37 ended up having a bad battery and after replacing it I tried the current draw test before putting the negative lead on. It is drawing, I will just barely touch it because it is throwing sparks when I do and showing anywhere from 1.7 to 2.2 so I definitely have an issue there. I plan on starting to pull fuses when I get off work. The 2010 Nissan Murano that I originally wrote in about, I checked the voltage on it and I'm getting 12.4. I know it is supposed to be 12.5. Is that enough to keep it from turning over? I ask because when I use my portable jumper, I don't have to let it charge for a bit. All I do is connect it and immediately start the car. I haven't checked it for current draw as of yet.
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Thursday, July 27th, 2023 AT 7:24 AM
Tiny
BORIS K
  • MECHANIC
  • 799 POSTS
Hello,

Sometimes a battery will have the correct voltage but still is not able to start an engine as it cannot sustain a load. But I would recommend first checking the condition of the battery terminals.

How to:
https://www.2carpros.com/articles/everything-goes-dead-when-engine-is-cranked

If you find nothing wrong, then I would suggest having the battery load tested.

You can do this yourself but would get more accurate results having it done by a shop.

A good video how to load test a battery:
https://youtu.be/oHTbC73FAgU

As the vehicle starts with a jumper pack connected, we know that the starter motor and wiring to it is good.

Cheers, Boris

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Friday, July 28th, 2023 AT 6:42 AM
Tiny
DOUBLETROUBLE
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Thanks, I will be testing these things today. I have to say that I'm perplexed because after work yesterday I went out to start testing the parasitic charge on the Infiniti and I pulled one fuse under the hood marked Audio did the test and only got like.02 I was thinking I couldn't have got that lucky so I put the fuse back in and tested and still only.02. Is that possible when just that morning it was showing 1.7 to 2.2 when I ran the test?
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Friday, July 28th, 2023 AT 7:01 AM
Tiny
BORIS K
  • MECHANIC
  • 799 POSTS
Hello,

It is possible if you pull a fuse that it can shut down the offending module and only come alive again once you have cycled the ignition.

It would be easiest if you could test it again and send us a picture of the fuse that you pulled.
Also, the exact model of your Infinity so that we can try and assist.

Cheers, Boris
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Friday, July 28th, 2023 AT 8:59 AM

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