Ok sometime ago I replaced the battery in the IROC-Z with an basic duty les schwab battery, which I would imagine would hold up to normal sitting for a few days, WELL up until about a month ago I would be able to leave the car sitting for over a week without starting and she would fire up just fine when I would, BUT now the car never wants to start, its most defintly the battery to, Im talking that even after like a day of sitting, I have to charge the battery 50/50 of the time. I always double check that the lights, radio, etc are turned off before i shut her off, so what could be causing this?

Also I had the battery tested about 2month's ago at les schwab and they claimed it was 100% good condition. Also I should throw this in, the positive battery cable is new and tighen to the frame, alternator, and the battery, but the negative cable is older and the bolt that tightens it to the battery is stripped out badly and its mostly tight all the way, but not perfectly stiff, Could this be the problem?

And yes all the battery terminals and 100% clean. Idea's? thanks.

Also I should not that while it IS pretty chilly around here, she stays in the garage, which isnt much warmer but I wouldnt think slightly cooler temps would cause this problem, Would it?

 

Anyone?

 

the negative cable could certainly be an issue. Do you have an under hood light that could be staying on?

 

possibly could be the problem, and I really doubt the light would be staying on, because the light is loose and rarely ever comes on, plus i think i would see the glow from it comming out from the corner of the hood because the hood isnt seated perfectly and i removed the back weatherstripping so yah plus the garage is dark

 

Deffinitely sounds like you have a parasetic drain somewhere.

 

thats what I was thinking mostly, but why is it somedays the battery stays charged longer then other days?

 

That is the interesting part that it isn,t consistant.

 

Temperature differences could possibly have an effect.

 

Figure i'll update this, well the constant battery drain problem has COMPLETELY stopped, its even has been in the teens and she'll fire right up, even if it's been a week, it seems weired that now she doesnt have that problem anymore so is there someting still most defintly wrong in the electrical? or was it just some crazy spell of bad luck consisting of constant battery drain LMAO. And you all will be saying BS, kid must of been leaving something on. Well there sure is a chance of that happening, but sure in hell wasnt intential, I always double check that EVERYTHING was off, radio, lights, HVAC controls, curtiosy light. Haha.

 

Are you a AAA Oregon member? (I'm in Beaverton). Anyway, if you are you could give them a call and they have specialists who can come out and test your battery and system and possibly determine what's going on. If you so choose, you can buy a battery from him on the spot (3 year, pro-rated, warranty). The one I bought about 2 years ago when I had a starting problem (he determined correctly I needed a new Alternator) cost $105.00 and is still going strong.

Good luck!

Gene

 

You may want to get that negative battery bolt replaced. The problem sounds like an intermittant and weak connection that does not allow a good charge to be received from the alternator. When it was giving you problems, the connection was poor. Now, you may have pushed or moved the cable so it is making better contact. Unfortunately, down the road a few miles is probably another failure even though it runs right now.

 

Worst kind of problem is one that comes and goes... That said, when the problem returns, try putting an ammeter in series on one side of the battery (engine off). Note the current drain. Remove the under dash fuses one at a time to see if there is a circuit drawing the battery down. That's the culprit. I had a problem like what you described - turns out it was the small light in the trunk staying on. Good luck!

 

I had one of the door buttons stick in, in the "on" position, and the factory harness shorted at the firewall one year. check these and it may help.