How to Know If It Is Only A Battery Problem

[12vdc]

I told ya, check the charging system thoroughly.

If charging system is OK, that could be parasitic load.
Add ka na rin ng additional grounding sa engine block. Old vehicles tend to loose grounding due to corrosion.

[_Cathy_]

What is parasitic load?

[12vdc]

An unwanted load.

Like when you removed the key, the only electronics that should work are cpu memory, alarm/anti theft (if any), clock memory, and car stereo memory. Other than those loads mentioned are parasitic and will eat up the juice of your battery.

[Retz]

meron ka bang ginawang modifications or upgrades in your car electrical wiring sa corolla mo?

[12vdc]

Check first charging & grounding system before anything else.

Why i said grounding because its also related to charging and cranking.

Poor grounding system from engine to chassis will cause poor charging/cranking.

Remember, the alternator and starter motor return line (negative) is the engine, while the battery is located at the chassis. They are bridged by the grounding wire.

The mechanic may not notice this if he concentrates on the alternator output.

[_Cathy_]

An unwanted load.

Like when you removed the key, the only electronics that should work are cpu memory, alarm/anti theft (if any), clock memory, and car stereo memory. Other than those loads mentioned are parasitic and will eat up the juice of your battery.

so what could be the problem?

meron ka bang ginawang modifications or upgrades in your car electrical wiring sa corolla mo?

all stock corolla ko

[_Cathy_]

Check first charging & grounding system before anything else.

Why i said grounding because its also related to charging and cranking.

Poor grounding system from engine to chassis will cause poor charging/cranking.

Remember, the alternator and starter motor return line (negative) is the engine, while the battery is located at the chassis. They are bridged by the grounding wire.

The mechanic may not notice this if he concentrates on the alternator output.

How do I check charging and grounding system? What do I tell the mechanic?

Haaayyyyy!!!! Hirap ng lumang car, spending weekends at the repair shop...

[12vdc]

Not unless you have proper tools (tester, crimper, soldering iron, socket wrench set, etc), you would be better off bringing it to the electrical shop.

You may inspect thou the tiny bits like see if the grounding terminals are rusted/ corroded, and try to clean it. Or check if door ajar switch dome lamp is not alwyas on something like that.

Best you can do now is jumpstart the car and bring it to the shop. IF you decide to delay the repair/checking, remove the battery to avoid damaging it (deep discharge)..

[_Cathy_]

If the battery is discharged, can I have it charged now pero next Saturday ko pa ikabit? It's too late for me already to go to the electrical shop

[uls]

Ayoko na. Wala akong hazmat. Dalhin ko sa Motolite mamaya Sabi ni BM tatanggapin naman kahit hindi motolite yung battery ko

haha hazmat

[Retz]

^

I suggest dalhin mo na lang sa shop para ma diagnose ng mabuti madami kasi dahilan yan lalo na kung hindi pala drained battery ang cause.

[uls]

What is parasitic load?

something sucking power from your battery even if the key is switched off

[12vdc]

Pwede habang may time ka pa. Pero do consider an idle battry has self-discharge rate thou negligible kung after 7days lang ma-idle.

Ganyan din sakit dati ng corolla ko. Additional grounding lang, after nun one-click start kahit 2weeks na hindi nagamit.

[uls]

If the battery is discharged, can I have it charged now pero next Saturday ko pa ikabit? It's too late for me already to go to the electrical shop

sure

pero question is if the old battery can store power for a week

kasi pwede dying battery na yan... tumatanggap ng karga pero di tumataggal ang storage

either that or may parasite

[_Cathy_]

So when I go to the electrical shop I will tell them to check grounding and charging?

[uls]

you wanna find out:

1. if the battery is discharging rapidly on its own coz it's old

2. if something is sucking power from the battery when the key is turned off

3. if the alternator is working (but you already done that)

[12vdc]

Its like going to the doctor.

Telling them the symnptoms and the possible suspects will save you a trip/time/money of goin back for a backjob.

[Retz]

napa diagnose na ba sa electrical shop? ano na naging findings?

[dr. d]

1. you can have the battery charged now. if you connect it next week and the car starts, then your battery is good. if it does not start, then your battery is in need of replacement. (this test determines your battery's ability to hold the charge.)

2. if you are able to start the car as in #1 above, your probable headache-causing culprit is either a defective alternator or poor electrical connections, either of which can result in a weak battery. or, you have a parasite.

3. testing for parasite is easy. all you need is an ammeter: with the engine off, key out, and all other appliances off (but not disconnected) disconnect the main cable to the battery, and connect the ammeter probes in between the battery and the cable, observing polarity. note the ammeter reading. it should be "very small" (less than 0.1 amp). of course, most car owners do not have an ammeter nor know how to use it. thus, bring the car to the fixit shop na lang. heh heh.

4. #3 above is the easy part. the hard part is finding out where the leak is.. THIS is what separates the boys from the men.

seriously, bring the car to the battery shop. a well-equipped shop can test the battery's condition and the alternator's condition. most will not charge diagnosis fees, because it is easy to do. they make their profit on battery you will most likely buy from them.
now, testing for parasites... that takes a little more intelligence.
btw, if your car is MT, try push-starting it to get it going. most efi cars with weak (not dead and buried!) battery will start easily this way. you need just two slaves to push.. and even dying batteries will start a newly-died engine if immediately re-started..
good luck.

[[archie]]

if all else fail, get a voltmeter. kahit cdr king meron nito. sigurado magkakaalaman kung saan nanggagaling drain.