battery mysteriously drained

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Rusa - 15 Sep 2003 18:55 GMT

Hi all,
Yesterday, I couldnt start my nissan maxima GXE ('92). No lights
coming on, no nothing. The battery read about 4 volts ! Thought
battery was totally dead and got a brand new battery.

I fitted in the new battery and the car started up fine. I didnt run
the car again that day. Next day I attempted to start the car to go to
work but battery was totally dead again. The battery is reading about
5 volts and it is brand new !

I am baffled as to what could have drained the battery since I didnt
run the car at all ? Could my alternator be shorted but I can't
explain why the car started the first time when I put the new battery.

Any pointers sincerely appreciated.

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Warner Crump - 15 Sep 2003 20:55 GMT

Hmm, could be a starter going out? Mine went out and I could jump start my
bad starter. When a starter goes, it draws some hellacious amps from the
battery say like 750 or 800 starting amps. This will drain a new battery in
no time flat. Thats jumping worked, it would draw amps off both batteries.
But the alternator would be a good guess too.

> Hi all,
> Yesterday, I couldnt start my nissan maxima GXE ('92). No lights
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
> Any pointers sincerely appreciated.

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John Nguyen - 26 Sep 2003 11:42 GMT

it's most likely the alternator.... because the alternator is wat recharges
the battery of the car... no recharge means that your car will be running
the battery till it dies out on you... this would explain the new battery
going dead on you... because since your starter got the juice from the new
battery to start... it works fine.. and your ignition coils would have
gotten their power from the new battery as well.... but since while running
the alternator wasn't recharging your battery... it basically ran it dry...
since it was only 1 day from new.. this would probably explain the 5V
compared with the old batteries 4V...
Nissans are very notorious for their alternators.... same as Hondas are for
their automatics and seal problems (ie windows and moonroofs) and Toyotas
and the bottom ends of their blocks...
hopes this helped out your wondering about the problem...

> Hmm, could be a starter going out? Mine went out and I could jump start my
> bad starter. When a starter goes, it draws some hellacious amps from the
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
> >
> > Any pointers sincerely appreciated.

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ronm - 15 Sep 2003 22:20 GMT

I would hookup a amp.meter and look for draining with everthing off. If
it's over one amp. their surly is a short someplace. Stuck break light
switch could be it.
ronm

> Hi all,
> Yesterday, I couldnt start my nissan maxima GXE ('92). No lights
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
> Any pointers sincerely appreciated.

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Holden McGroyn - 23 Sep 2003 18:52 GMT

> Hi all,
> Yesterday, I couldnt start my nissan maxima GXE ('92). No lights
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
> Any pointers sincerely appreciated.

Put a test light inline between the battery and positive battery cable,
if the test light comes on then your drawing too much power, start
pulling fuses untill the light goes off. If your alternator is drawing
power when the car is off it will usually be warm to the touch, if it's
warmer than everythung else when the engine is cold - that's the
culprit. Alternators however very seldom fail in this way so look for
other stuff first.

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