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1995 Lincoln Mark VIII Wont hold a charge

Tiny
MRMORRISON
  • MEMBER
  • 1995 LINCOLN MARK VIII
  • V8
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 13,400 MILES
I have a 1995 Lincoln Mark VIII and I havent been having any issue until I had a mechanic I know give me a tune up. All he did was replace the wires, plugs, and filter. After he did this and I went out of town for a week. I came back and it wouldnt start. I had a new battery already installed and I also recently had my alternator rebuilt two months ago. I am trying to figure out what is causing my car not to keep a charge. It starts perfectly on a fully charged or jumped battery.
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Monday, January 12th, 2009 AT 2:21 PM

7 Replies

Tiny
JAMES W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,394 POSTS
Does the battery go dead sitting overnight, or just for extended periods of time. Please advise.
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Monday, January 12th, 2009 AT 2:55 PM
Tiny
MRMORRISON
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
I put a brand new battery in the car and overnight the battery was drained completely. The mechanic that did my tune-up told me to take the light out of the glove box, under the hood and trunk stating that sometimes they say on for whatever reason. I havent done this because I dont think this is the problem.

I figured that something staying on in my car even after it is turne off. I did notice that after I turn my car off and take out the key, the car can be turned on without the key being in the ignition. I dont know if this has something to do with it but I figured I would inform you.
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Tuesday, January 13th, 2009 AT 10:02 AM
Tiny
JAMES W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,394 POSTS
The fact that you can turn the ignition without the key is probably in the key tumbler itself, and most likely have nothing to do with battery drain. The best way I know of to find your drain is with a simple "incandescent" test light. Not a neon or led tester. Disconnect the negative cable from the battery and connect the test light between the negative cable and the battery post. If you have a 12 volt (heavy) draw, the light will glow bright. Computer(s) memories only draw about 5 volts and will glow dimly at the light. First, with the key "off", disconnect the output terminal on the alternator to eliminate a possible diode problem in the alternator. If the light stays bright, start pulling fuses, one at a time, until the light goes dim. This will pinpoint the circuit that has the drain. Once you've found the circuit, it's a process of elimination on that circuit. Let me know what you find.
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Tuesday, January 13th, 2009 AT 1:04 PM
Tiny
RUSS1720
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Your alternator is bad the bridge is burnt out, even if it says it is charging, it is killing your battery.I had same problem, and it took some time to figure out.
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Friday, January 16th, 2009 AT 5:15 PM
Tiny
JAMES W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,394 POSTS
The triode (bridge) could be be bad in your alternator. If the triode is bad, the alternator will charge just fine, but WILL drain the battery after you turn the car off. That is why I asked you to disconnect the output wire first before you make any other tests.
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Saturday, January 17th, 2009 AT 4:25 PM
Tiny
DANNRELLI
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
I have a similar situation I think. When I had the stereo on I could here a modulating electronic whining noise which rose and fell with acceleration. This has been a problem for quite a while. This morning when I went to start the car the battery was dead. When I put it on the charger I got a loud static sound coming from the stereo system even with the ignition off. Because I had had the problem with the radio I thought that it must be the problem so I disconnected it and the car started right up. However even with the ignition off and the stereo removed I still here the high pitch whine. I am wondering if that could be the alternator bridge issue. Any help would be appreciated
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Sunday, December 9th, 2018 AT 1:14 PM
Tiny
DANNY L
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,648 POSTS
Hello, Ia m Danny.

You have attached a question to one that is years old.You need to start a new question including your vehicle info.Hope this helps and thanks for using 2CarPros.here's the link.
Danny-

https://www.2carpros.com/questions/new
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Sunday, December 9th, 2018 AT 3:17 PM

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