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What could be causing a battery drain

Tiny
ANTHONY-WAYNE
  • MEMBER
  • 2004 FORD FREESTAR
  • 3.9L
  • V6
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 190,252 MILES
Two days ago while driving at night my head lights went dim, the battery light came on, the radio and dashboard lights went off. By the time I made it home my head lights were also out. The next day I bought a new battery and began to have the same issues so I then replaced the alternator. I am now beginning to have the same issues yet again the battery light has come on and the dashboard and radio has been going off. This has all happened within the last three days, What should I do?
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Monday, September 10th, 2018 AT 11:33 PM

13 Replies

Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Good morning.

Do you have a voltmeter to check the voltage at the battery with the engine running? We need to see if the alternator is working.

Roy

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

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-a-car-electrical-system-works
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Tuesday, September 11th, 2018 AT 2:56 AM
Tiny
ANTHONY-WAYNE
  • MEMBER
  • 17 POSTS
I do not have a voltmeter, but I will go to the store where I bought the alternator and have them test it for me. What voltage should it show if it is working properly?
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Tuesday, September 11th, 2018 AT 11:01 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
You need 14 to 14.5 volts while running.

Roy
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Tuesday, September 11th, 2018 AT 11:18 AM
Tiny
ANTHONY-WAYNE
  • MEMBER
  • 17 POSTS
I have checked the voltage, without the car running the battery shows at 13.03 volts. With the car running it shows at 14.59 volts. I also tested it with the radio, headlights and ac running at max and it showed 14.49 volts.
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Sunday, September 16th, 2018 AT 10:41 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
The charging system is good.

13 volts is a lot for the battery. 13 volts tells me you may have a sulfated battery.

Roy
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Sunday, September 16th, 2018 AT 11:07 AM
Tiny
ANTHONY-WAYNE
  • MEMBER
  • 17 POSTS
Okay, so I looked that up and it says it can be fixed with low voltage electric pulses. Should I go back and exchange the battery or try to fix it?
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Sunday, September 16th, 2018 AT 1:03 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
There is no fix for it. I do not know where you read that but it is extremely inaccurate information. A sulfated battery is an internal short and cannot be fixed.

Yes, exchange the battery.

Roy
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Sunday, September 16th, 2018 AT 8:06 PM
Tiny
ANTHONY-WAYNE
  • MEMBER
  • 17 POSTS
Thank you, also I checked the voltage today with engine running and was at 15.3.
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Monday, September 17th, 2018 AT 5:59 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
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That is too high. It is overcharging.

It should be 14 to 14.5 volts.

If those readings are accurate, replace the alternator. Tthe voltage regulator has failed.

Roy
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Monday, September 17th, 2018 AT 6:29 PM
Tiny
ANTHONY-WAYNE
  • MEMBER
  • 17 POSTS
So should I replace both the battery and alternator?
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Monday, September 17th, 2018 AT 6:35 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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Yep, that is why the battery sulfated. The alternator cooked it.

Roy
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Monday, September 17th, 2018 AT 6:41 PM
Tiny
ANTHONY-WAYNE
  • MEMBER
  • 17 POSTS
Okay, so the alternator is new and the battery is too, but the battery was put in before I put in the new alternator. Could the old alternator have fried the new battery? Sorry to keep asking the same question, I am just trying to figure this out.
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Monday, September 17th, 2018 AT 6:56 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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Yes it can. It could be a day old and it can be ruined.

The overcharging is or was the issue. You can only put one gallon of stuff in a one gallon barrel. Overcharging tries to put more in and that is what damaged the battery.

Roy
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Tuesday, September 18th, 2018 AT 2:51 AM

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