Battery Dies Over Night?

[2ndGenPreludeSi]

Hey, I have a problem with the car having a dead battery unless I unhook it when it's parked for a long time. The alternator is only a few months old. It's like I'm leaving the radio on, or something is running when I shut it off. I have no idea where to look for a solution, and was hoping for some advice from someone thats had this probleem or similar. The battery stays charged if I unhook it, its just a pain to pop the hood and diisconnect it all the time.

[2oodoor]

yes the whole point of owning a Honda is not to need to look under the hood constantly right!
Check the usual culprits, glove box light, trunk light, dome light switched on even though it doesn't work, debris in the cig lighter, black goo on the battery post, brake light switch stop plug missing on the brake pedal lever, combo switch that turns on the parking lights by itself, engine fan relay stuck, alternator diode, power box diode, any aftermarket stereo equip that is not on switched power, and _______.

[Dr_Snooz]

Each night, disconnect one fuse. The morning you come out and the car isn't dead will be the circuit you need to explore more carefully. Alternatively, disconnect all the fuses and add one back each night.

Let us know what you learn.

[2ndGenPreludeSi]

Thanks they are both awesome advice, I will look further into it!

[MessyHonda]

snooz's idea is great but that takes too long. what I did was check out all the fuses that were drawing power when the engine was off

[AccordB20A]

i usually get in there with the multimeter and see what circuits drawing the most amps

[Oldblueaccord]

Hey, I have a problem with the car having a dead battery unless I unhook it when it's parked for a long time. The alternator is only a few months old. It's like I'm leaving the radio on, or something is running when I shut it off. I have no idea where to look for a solution, and was hoping for some advice from someone thats had this probleem or similar. The battery stays charged if I unhook it, its just a pain to pop the hood and diisconnect it all the time.


I think my car can go about 4 weeks sitting. How long is a long time for you ?

wp

[2ndGenPreludeSi]

When I said a long time I meant over night,

If I take a multimeter to the fusebox, (when the car is off) should there be anything with current or should it all be at zero? Or what?

[Dr_Snooz]

i usually get in there with the multimeter and see what circuits drawing the most amps

Yes. Definitely a better way than mine. Are you using an ammeter? They are relatively rare and if you don't get a fairly heavy duty one, you can light it on fire if there is a lot of current in the circuit.

[Oldblueaccord]

When I said a long time I meant over night,

If I take a multimeter to the fusebox, (when the car is off) should there be anything with current or should it all be at zero? Or what?

I would look for an amp or less overall. I'm not sure what the exact number is suspossed to be. Its easier to do with an amp clamp type meter that reads DC amps. There some youtube videos that show how to check for amp draw.


wp

[nswst8]

You can use a lighted circuit detector between the negative cable and the negative battery post. Just like an ampmeter.

[Oldblueaccord]

http://img850.imageshack.us/img850/5006/ampdraw151.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/850/ampdraw151.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

I'd say 1.5 amps but whoops I had the door open.

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/3852/hondaampdraw34.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/190/hondaampdraw34.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

[POS carb]

do your flip ups work properly? i've seen people crash these cars and if the flipup gets stuck below the open or closed point the motor wont stop trying to flip the light and it'll drain the battery
you can also hook up a light bulb in line with the battery terminal, pull fuses one by one until the light goes out, that will narrow down your search

[2oodoor]

that actually happened to me before I forgot about that! Hood adjusted a lil too close and the eyelid caught it.. car started doing wierd stuff.

[charliekuney]

I got my car for $300 because the battery cable was loose. :D

[Hauntd ca3]

at 0.340 amps, i'd be looking for a small light staying on.
thats about 5 watts which is like the boot light, glove box light or if your car has a light for mirror in the sun shade, a door light staying on, something like that