Unexplained Battery Drain

Digital_Ph@ntom · 11-29-2004, 02:56 AM

I have a 1st-gen, '92 Saturn SL1. For some reason my battery is being drained after I turn off the car.

I recently had the alternator replaced and the battery was bought in July of this year. I stripped out everything I did to the car (i.e. lighting, sound, etc.) down to factory in case MY OWN wiring was doing it. Unfortunately, it is STILL draining. I asked a few people about it and one person said maybe the wiring from the alternator was frayed or wrong and another person suggested that maybe my starter celenoid was drawing the power.

I am going to have it taken up to Auto Zone when I have a free day from work so see if the computer tester will tell me anything. If anyone has any suggestions, they are more than welcome to make them. And if you need more details, just ask.

TIA

Anony00GT · 11-30-2004, 12:28 AM

You have a load on the battery or a short somewhere. Turn everything off, and put a voltmeter in-line on the battery, see what the draw is. It's really a matter of wire-chasing. It'll be a long drawn-out diagnostic process, so be ready for it.

cherryc · 12-05-2004, 01:00 PM

I had the same problem, same exact car. The power seat belts get tired and will not go all the way into position. The system is "dumb" and will try forever, or until your batter is dead (guess which comes first). All other systems are off when the car is off.

Pull the fuse for the seat belts and you should see the problem go away. I never did fix mine, It just takes me a few seconds longer to buckle the lap and shoulder harness separately.

Digital_Ph@ntom · 12-06-2004, 05:46 AM

Well thank God it was something simple....

After freaking out thinking I had to do a wire hunt, it turns out it was only a bad battery. It would charge, but not hold the charge; neither hooked to the rest of the car or totally disconnected from the car standing alone. I went to AutoZone and they replaced it free of charge.

And for good measure, I took the seatbelt fuse out as well b/c they are sticking....at least the driver's side is and the passenger side is just slow. I bought replacement motors and tracks awhile ago, but have been too lazy to replace them.

my99sl1 · 12-06-2004, 05:56 AM

well at least it was something simple.