Need some help with my X

[Gabriel]

Been a minute since I've posted, new job and school keeps me busy!!

So my X started acting up. I started coming out to her completely dead and needing a jumpstart. Before any thoughts, no I didn't leave lights on. I have a yellow top optima battery 3 years old. I've had the battery recharged, and still the car is dead the next day. Pretty much get home around 6/7 pm and gotta go to work next day at 5am. No crank. This past week I did the alternator test since I read they go out from 120-150k, my X is at 155k. After disconnecting the battery terminal my X died after 30-40seconds. So I switched out the alternator for new one(not refurbished) and changed my spark plugs. My X has doing better but its been a few days and she is starting to have a difficult time to turn over again. At this point idk what else could be wrong? Id great appreciate any advice!!

 

[TerryD]

That "alternator test" doesn't work with computerized vehicles.

You need to have it load tested instead.

But it sounds like you have a draw. You'll need to hook an ammeter in line between your negative terminal and the battery and read the current.

Start pulling fuses, one by one, till that drops to near 0. Whatever fuse you pull to do that has a draw on it.

Do not crank the engine while you have it hooked up this way. Best case you blow the fuse in your meter. Worst case your meter explodes..

 

[Gabriel]

Well damm Autozone got my 250 on a new alternator.
So I pulled all the fuses in the engine bay and glove box and had none blown. Guess ima have to look into load testing and a fuse draw.

Any youtube video you can direct me to? Will any voltage meter work?

 

[TerryD]

Any multimeter with a DC Current/amp setting will work. I don't know of any videos, sorry.

 

[Gabriel]

Can you explain a bit more in detail how to test for the draw with the multimeter? Thank you greatly appreciate it

yup for the first time since the alternator replacement. Shes dead dead. Got home around 6pm and attempted to turn the car on right now at 12pm. Sigh
Putting the battery to recharge but need to test for this draw asap.

 

[Gabriel]

Can you explain a bit more in detail how to test for the draw with the multimeter? Thank you greatly appreciate it

yup for the first time since the alternator replacement. Shes dead dead. Got home around 6pm and attempted to turn the car on right now at 12pm. Sigh
Putting the battery to recharge but need to test for this draw asap.

View: https://youtu.be/zdIKNnwEjIs

 

[CHUG]

That Video needs to be a STICKY!. for future Needs..

 

[Gabriel]

This is killing me!! Day 2 of my X just dead.
parked at 10pm and attenpted to start her at 1pm, sigh. Battery is at only 11% charge and I had charged it to yesterday. That has to be be a huge draw!! And the only thing I know is on, are the rocker panel switches(3) cause the neon glow stay on.

 

[xyoverland]

This is killing me!! Day 2 of my X just dead.
parked at 10pm and attenpted to start her at 1pm, sigh. Battery is at only 11% charge and I had charged it to yesterday. That has to be be a huge draw!! And the only thing I know is on, are the rocker panel switches(3) cause the neon glow stay on.

I have a multimeter you can borrow but it’s probably cheaper to buy one than the gas money to come up. Do you have a winch or anything? It seems like something is drawing current and likely more than a little LED. Is it also possible it’s just a bad battery?

 

[Gabriel]

No winch. 3 led light bars connected to 3 rocker panel switches. I have a multimeter coming in tomorrow from amazon. The battery is 3/4 years, working with no issues so I can't picture to start failing now. This all started this year. Left my car parked in July for 2 weeks and battery died. Then recharged and worked just fine all until December 25th weekend when it hit 5degrees. Had the battery recharged and bought my own battery recharger. And since then to now car is dead several times if I dont turn her over within 8hours. Alternator and spark plugs changed. Besides the theory of a draw, next is starter and battery. Since Optimas are over 300 right now

 

[Gabriel]

Welp that just happened. For the first time! What makes a battery go bad? After working properly for 3 years

 

[tommylghts]

I had a similar problem and it turned out to be my starter. The starter was still functional and was temperature dependent on rotations. On a warm afternoon or after a longer drive it would labor turning slow, a little faster if it were chilly out. It was also pulling my battery down. I swapped out the starter with a unit from advance and haven't had any problems. Mine is an 02 SE, 3.3 Hope you get it sorted out.

 

[xyoverland]

I’ve read that Optima has been on a bad decline, and a yellow dying after just a few years is in line with a lot of threads I’ve read about them. I imagine it doesn’t help that the alternator in the X can’t fully charge it.