I went to fire up the RS today and the battery was dead. Well actually not totally dead there was enough power to preserve my radio stations and give me a weak dome light and ses light. The car was running fine yesterday. So I jumped it off and if started fine. I let it run for twenty minutes to recharge the battery. I turned it off and started it back up everything seemed fine. So a couple hours later I went to start the car back up and the battery is low again. What the hell? A week ago I noticed that the alternator was making a funny buzzing noise when the car was off. Could the alternator be draining the battery? If so why would it take so long to do it the first time then drain it within an hour the second time? Whoa sorry for how long this post is. Thanks in advance for any help.

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1988 Camaro RS
2.8L five speed
TB bypass


1988 Camaro
2.8L automatic
t-tops
160* THERMO, TB bypass
Rapid fire plugs

[This message has been edited by HIX5000 (edited March 28, 2001).]

 

An alternator won't charge a battery in 20 minutes, not even close. Your alternator could be causing the draw on the battery. That noise might have been your alternator trying to charge the battery, since it was dead. Unhook the alternator wires and let the car sit overnight and see if the battery is dead or not. Have the battery tested.


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82 camaro--original steering wheel, brake/gas pedals, seats--everything else modified
82camaro

 

Sounds like one of two things to me:
either you have an electrical short draining the battery, or (more likely) your battery is shot. A bad battery won't hold a charge. It may have enough juice to start the car right after you shut it off, but after sitting a few hours, the battery will have discharged on its own, and won't be able to start the car. Get the battery tested, and make sure it's charged up when it's tested to get an accurate reading. About the buzzing noise, are you sure it's coming from your alternator, and not the fuel pump?

 

I unpluged the alternator and let the car sit over night, and there was no drain. So the alternator was causing the drain. I am fairly sure that the alternator is making the noise, because if I unhook it the noise stops. Damn it's too bad I have to replace it, because the alternator(ACDELCO) charges real good. Thanks for the help guys.

[This message has been edited by HIX5000 (edited March 28, 2001).]