Starting problem

[Rublex]

Hey guys,

Have a problem starting the car. Just hear repetative clicking sounds.

What I have eliminated (I think):

Checked the alternator and battery at autozone. GOOD.
Took out the starter and checked at autozone. GOOD.

Here are some more symptoms:

I can jump start just fine and after a few minutes it can start on its own without the jump.
I can drive a bit, turn it off and it start again within 10 mins after turn off.
I leave it overnight and in the morning it does the clicking again.

So the battery is getting drained overnight. What could that be, a short? What else?

If it is a short how do I go about finding it? Is there a tool? A process?

Thanks for the help

[Mike Gerber]

Welcome to the forum. You may be on the right track with something drawing excessive current when the car is turned off. This is called excessive "dark current draw". To test this you will need a digital volt/ohmeter. Shut off the car and disconnect the negative battery cable. Set the meter to a milliamp scale. Put the 2 probes of the meter between the negative battery cable and the negative battery post and take a reading. The normal dark current when the car is off should be 25 milliamps or less. If you are reading in excess of 25 milliamps you have a high dark current draw that is killing your battery overnight. To find the excessive current draw, pull 1 fuse from the fuse block at a time and take another reading. When the dark current draw drops to normal, you have isolated the problem to one of the circuits protected by that fuse. Now you must individually check each of those circuits to find the offending circuit and repair it. In my experience, an aftermarket alarm system is often the offending item. Do you have an aftermarket alarm system on this car? If so, find the fuse for the alarm system and remove it. It's usually an inline fuse. Then take another dark current reading. If it's causing the problem leave the fuse out until you can take it back to the shop that installed it and get it repaired.

Good luck.

Mike

[Rublex]

Thanks, I'll try that tonight. I don't however have any alarm systems.

[Rublex]

Originally Posted by Mike Gerber

Welcome to the forum. You may be on the right track with something drawing excessive current when the car is turned off. This is called excessive "dark current draw". To test this you will need a digital volt/ohmeter. Shut off the car and disconnect the negative battery cable. Set the meter to a milliamp scale. Put the 2 probes of the meter between the negative battery cable and the negative battery post and take a reading. The normal dark current when the car is off should be 25 milliamps or less. If you are reading in excess of 25 milliamps you have a high dark current draw that is killing your battery overnight. To find the excessive current draw, pull 1 fuse from the fuse block at a time and take another reading. When the dark current draw drops to normal, you have isolated the problem to one of the circuits protected by that fuse. Now you must individually check each of those circuits to find the offending circuit and repair it. In my experience, an aftermarket alarm system is often the offending item. Do you have an aftermarket alarm system on this car? If so, find the fuse for the alarm system and remove it. It's usually an inline fuse. Then take another dark current reading. If it's causing the problem leave the fuse out until you can take it back to the shop that installed it and get it repaired.

Good luck.

Mike

Well, measured the current and it is 21 milliamps. I am starting to think it is after all the battery. Even though it tested OK at autozone, I think I'll pick a new one up and see if it helps. I can always take it back.

[Mike Gerber]

Originally Posted by Rublex

Well, measured the current and it is 21 milliamps. I am starting to think it is after all the battery. Even though it tested OK at autozone, I think I'll pick a new one up and see if it helps. I can always take it back.

That sounds like a good idea, but make sure they will take it back before you buy it. Many places will not take electrical items back.

I would also make sure all my connections are clean and tight at both the battery end and the starter end.

Mike