Nissan Repair: Re: 1992 Sentra Engine battery / start problem, electrical circuits, beej
QuestionHello,
How are you? Last week I went to start my car and the battery was dead. After some checking and charging the battery and some troubleshooting, I changed the alternator. I then charged the battery overnight and when I started it again, it seemed dead. After getting it started and running it awhile to hopefully charge, I turned it off and tried it again. Very very weak...again. I changed th battery.
Now I have a brand new battery and a brand new alternator in my car. After putting in the new fully charged battery today, I went to start it only to to hear it crank as if the battery is dying. The same problem as in the beginning.
Is there a part or regulator or something that is disrupting the power from the battery to the starter? Or coupld it be the starter?
Thank -you in advance,
- Beej
AnswerBeej,
You have something draining the battery. Normally, a car has a 100 milliamp draw when it is off. And, that is for one of the new cars that really has many things that demand battery use for radio memory and such. If you have been through two batteries and alternators and the thing is still running down overnight you have something like a relay that is hung and keeping the current flowing at such a level to discharge a battery overnight.
So, are you sure that everything in the car is dead while you have the slow start condition? If everything else is working fine then it is not a draining condition. But, if the entire car is not getting power then you know something is draining the battery. I wouls start with looking at what is left running when the car is off. Sometimes it can be as simple a the tape player being hung in the on position even when the key is off. I ahve seen some where the glovebox light would not turn off and that drained the battery. I have seen where the turnk light would not turn off... Well, you get the idea. You need to look at all electrical circuits to see what is running your system down.
