battery draining... FAST

[gforbess at attglobal.net (Gordon Forbess)]

On Tue, 23 Jan 2007 23:15:54 +0000, "Lexan Blanchard"
<lexan_122874@hotmail.com> wrote:

>OK, really narrowing down the field of items that would keep the car from 
>starting.
>
>What are the most likely culprits of quick battery drain?  I found one bad 
>ground, and fixed it.  The battery is new (like, I bought it 2 weeks ago).  
>I leave the battery disconnected until I am ready to try a start.  I get in 
>and attempt to start the car for about 1 minute, 2 times 30 seconds each, 
>battery connected no more than 5 minutes.  Get out and disconnect the 
>battery.  Multimeter reading of over 13 before connection, 12.2 after trying 
>to start.  Help!
>
>Also, I am pretty sure the starter has seen better days, and figure this is 
>a good candidate for replacement (it sounds really weak).  My problem is I 
>can't get the old one off the car!  I have the proper size allen wrench, and 
>I have sprayed PB Blaster (break-free stuff for stuck bolts and things) and 
>tapped, but with no avail.    I guess where the starter is located makes is 
>difficult to really get on it with some force with a regular allen wrench.  
>Any ideas?  I am going to have to pay the nice guys at the auto parts store 
>the core charge (they let me take the new one with a promise of returning 
>the old one) soon :(

Are you sure the battery is being recharged?  Thirteen volts with no
load doesn't really mean the battery is fully charged.  The 12.2
you're getting after cranking it a while is more indicative.  Did the
battery do this when you first installed it?

Be sure to check the voltage regulator and carbon brushes.  Too short
(less than about 3/8") or not shiny on the contact surface can cause
inadequate charging.



Gordon
75 Mk I/Drake 1.9
http://pws.prserv.net/gforbess/scirocco/scirocco.htm