Battery is draining. What can it be?

[SexySixer707]

Ok, I put new side marker bulbs in my car. I got clear corners put in and I changed the bulbs to the amber colored ones. I was driving to pick my girl up and the radio shut off. I do have a system in my car, but not pushing alot. The radio came back on and about 20 min later it turned off again. I can smell something burning. Electrical.

This morning I went outside to open my car and the alarm was'nt working. The battery was at about 3 volts. The night before it was fine. I tried jumpstarting it and nothing. I took the baterry to Auto zone and they siad it charged and was fine. I put it back in my car and it was at 8 volts(red). Then I was dinking with the stereo deck to see if wires were touching and nothing. The battery eventually died. So I went to Walmart and pick up a new better battery. It was still at about 8-9 volts(red). The car started and ran, but stayed at the same 8-9 volts. So I guess it's not the battery.

Maybe the alternator?
Or could it be the bulbs I put in?
How can I figure this out?
Thanks guys

[kristen]

Re: Battery is draining. What can it be?

i would say the alt. but you also might be putting too much power on your battery. how long have you had the system? there is no way that it's the bulbs.

[97rs4life]

Re: Battery is draining. What can it be?

your alt is shot and not charging the battery up anymore

[SexySixer707]

Re: Battery is draining. What can it be?

i would say the alt. but you also might be putting too much power on your battery. how long have you had the system? there is no way that it's the bulbs.

I'm thinking the alt as well. I've had the system for about 5 months and no problem. It just started happening since I put the bulbs in. Maybe just good timing. I have another camaro I'm parting out. I'll pull the alternator out. I'll let you guys know.

[SexySixer707]

Re: Battery is draining. What can it be?

Well, I changed the alternator and it started and the new battery was at 13 volts. I went and charged my other one and they they said it was fine. I put it in and it was still in the red. I turned the car on and it went to 13volts. It would drop a little and went I pressed the gas it would go up.

What now?

[Rob Bell]

Re: Battery is draining. What can it be?

I would suggest hooking up an ammeter in series with the battery. With EVERYTHING off and the doors closed it should draw no more than a few milliamps for the memory in the computer and radio. Any more and you have a short somewhere. So then you start checking things by pulling fuses until it stops drawing power. One time I had a bad alternator and it was drawing 1 amp, which would run down the battery overnight.