Mysterious Electrical Drain
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 9
From: Chicago
Mysterious Electrical Drain
I periodically get behind the wheel of my 1999 Accord LX coupe and am unable to start it. A jump usually does the trick, and the problem usually does not reoccur.
Usually.
Which is the most frustrating aspect of this condition. There are no common denominators. Weather, temperature, season, how long it was driven prior to the event, how many stops were made, etc.
It just happens. Completely at random.
When a jump hasn't solved the problem, a new battery, distributor, etc. usually does.
The most-recent occurrence has been this December.
1. After sitting over night, it would only grind the next morning. Would not turn over. Had new plugs, spark plug wires and a distributor installed. The car was fine for six days.
2. One afternoon after three shopping stops, the car was dead silent when I turned the key. Dash lights would glow, but there wasn't a sound from under the hood.
This time, had a new starter installed.
3. The car worked fine for a day and a half. This morning, after sitting over night, it was so completely drained I couldn't even operate the power locks. Needless to say, it would not start. A jump succeeded.
The shop has done a complete diagnostic of the electrical system, and cannot find a problem. Which is what dealers in New Mexico and Wisconsin also encountered. No one has a clue.
To paraphrase my mom, the battery didn't drain itself. It's like something periodically does not shut down when I turn off the car.
Any other owners ever suffer from this problem? And was it ever remedied?
Usually.
Which is the most frustrating aspect of this condition. There are no common denominators. Weather, temperature, season, how long it was driven prior to the event, how many stops were made, etc.
It just happens. Completely at random.
When a jump hasn't solved the problem, a new battery, distributor, etc. usually does.
The most-recent occurrence has been this December.
1. After sitting over night, it would only grind the next morning. Would not turn over. Had new plugs, spark plug wires and a distributor installed. The car was fine for six days.
2. One afternoon after three shopping stops, the car was dead silent when I turned the key. Dash lights would glow, but there wasn't a sound from under the hood.
This time, had a new starter installed.
3. The car worked fine for a day and a half. This morning, after sitting over night, it was so completely drained I couldn't even operate the power locks. Needless to say, it would not start. A jump succeeded.
The shop has done a complete diagnostic of the electrical system, and cannot find a problem. Which is what dealers in New Mexico and Wisconsin also encountered. No one has a clue.
To paraphrase my mom, the battery didn't drain itself. It's like something periodically does not shut down when I turn off the car.
Any other owners ever suffer from this problem? And was it ever remedied?
Super Moderator
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 16,334
From: Houston, TX
If a shop suggested changing those parts, then I'd recommend fining a new shop.
You have something drawing current from the battery. Do you have an aftermarket stereo or an alarm system installed in the car?
Locating a parasitic amp draw isn't too difficult, you just have to be persistent. I'd suggest a volt meter with an amp probe and measure the amp draw when the car is turned off. Once you measure a significant amp draw, start pulling fuses until the amps are reduced to low levels. Then you will have isolated the circuit that is drawing power.
You have something drawing current from the battery. Do you have an aftermarket stereo or an alarm system installed in the car?
Locating a parasitic amp draw isn't too difficult, you just have to be persistent. I'd suggest a volt meter with an amp probe and measure the amp draw when the car is turned off. Once you measure a significant amp draw, start pulling fuses until the amps are reduced to low levels. Then you will have isolated the circuit that is drawing power.
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