battery issues
Apr 13, 2011, 09:44 AM
#1
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Bay
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
battery issues
2003 Lancer ES - my battery died last week so i had it jumped, only the next morning it was dead again so i got a new battery. i then found out that the alternator was bad, so i replaced that and put a new belt on it too. very next morning, the battery was dead again. seems like something is draining the battery while the engine is off. any ideas??? 
Apr 13, 2011, 11:14 AM
#4
Evolving Member
iTrader: (5)
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: tx
Posts: 317
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
it will be a pain, i just stripped down a whole lancer and there are alot of ground wires.theres a big one mounted to a top tranny bolt,one on the head ,one on the timing cover may be a few more in the engine compartment.just check the main wire harness under the airbox for uncovered wires. double check all connections at alternator,if nothin else make a ground from battery to the chassis.
Trending Topics
Apr 13, 2011, 12:23 PM
#8
Evolving Member
iTrader: (5)
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: tx
Posts: 317
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
the cel is check engine light, might not hurt to check ur fuses too. u can always google the symptoms and maybe someone has same issue. in these forums look for 03lances or senate 6828 or maybe senate 6282 they are very smart with these cars they should know,send em a message.
Apr 13, 2011, 01:36 PM
#10
If your problem is indeed a component draining power, you have to find the faulty component.
But first, you have to find out if that's your problem, or if it's simply your new battery that can't hold a charge.
To troubleshoot an alternator is fairly simple.
Crank the car, disconnect the battery and wait. If the car keeps running with the battery disconnected, the alternator is likely good.
To troubleshoot a battery? I dunno. I would fully charge it, set it on a bench and periodically check its voltage over the course of maybe a day or two. If the voltage doesn't drop then you'd know the battery is indeed good.
Once both the alternator and battery have been ruled out, then you could actually start troubleshooting electrical components. Look for brown spots, listen for odd electrical sounds, use a multi-meter on wires you know should be dead when the car is off and so on.
That's just how I would go about it.
edit:
Here's something stupid you have to check. Make sure the wires on the battery terminals are tight. If they are loose then they are making poor contact and can't properly charge your battery while in operation, and obviously can't cold start your car.
With the car off. Disconnect both battery terminals and check the battery voltage with a multi-meter.
With the car still off, reconnect the battery leads and take another reading with your multi-meter.
Is the reading different? It should be the same, or very close. If the readings are way different, you definetly have something draining power while the car is off.
Last edited by blaze_125; Apr 13, 2011 at 01:44 PM.
Apr 13, 2011, 02:07 PM
#12
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Bay
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
thanks guys. i'm gonna check these out later on. in the mean time i've been disconnecting the negative cable on the battery every time i leave the car parked for extended periods. :/
Apr 18, 2011, 03:38 AM
#15
Newbie
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: WISCONSIN
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Battery/Radiator fans
I have been experiencing the same kind of problem with the dash lights and headlights flickering. My battery starts my car like normal except if dont start the car up for a few days then it has a little harder time starting. One thing that i have noticed is the lights flicker when the radiator fan kicks on and off but it seems to be an irregular fan timing control causing the fans to turn on and off multiple times in a matter of seconds and i can hear a high pitched electrical humming noise coming from somewhere as the fan draws power and dims the lights theres also a little power loss while driving. So the problem i have i believe has to do with the fan timing relay or fuses. The past 2 batteries i have installed both leaked battery acid from the positive terminal and have replaced temperature sensor, battery, alternator belt, fuses that were blown and melted slightly but still had a weak connection, checked and removed paint form ground wire connections, disconnected battery, disconnected wires from fan mounted control switch or relay that seemed to fix the problem for a few minutes but the fan wouldn't turn on like a normal radiator fan but i'm used to my fan kicking on as soon as i turn the key in the ignition even before the car has started or warmed up (don't know if this is normal for this car). Thats all i have to say for now hope it helps and i hope i too can figure out why my radiator fan draws so much power that every electrical appliances in the vehicle suffers power loss. Please help if you can. Thanks!