battery keeps dying

[stravi757]

My battery keeps draining when its turned off and well, im not sure where to look. I have replaced my alternator with a 280zx turbo alt, and at ilde my battery is at 14.XX. So i know its charging fine.

 

I tried by taking some fuses out and it keeps on drawing. I have taken out the entire right side of fuses and the battery is still losing power.

 

I cant vouch for this battery so is it possible if a battery isnt good it can just lose its charge by itself?

[sweetleaf]

You need to start testing for draws from the battery back.

[CrazyZdriver110]

Here try this out

http://www.wikihow.com/Find-a-Parasitic-Battery-Drain

 

That should help you to get started in the right direction.

[roger.svoboda]

yes a marginal battery will fail while sitting. for a start buy a cheap $5 ammeter and hook it up between one of the battery cables and the battery terminal. since ammeter reads either way polarity not an issue. If you see a current draw you will know immediately that there is a problem. pull fuses until the draw is gone. If it isn't a fused circuit then you have some real detective work to do. If the needle doesn't move or maybe just twitches then you can go to a cheap vom on the 10 amp scale (Harbor Freight under $20) but now you have to get the polarity right. If you see a draw then again fuses. If you have a security system you probably will see a draw. Have the battery load tested at a battery place they usually do it free. Be sure your battery cables are clean and free of corrosion at BOTH ENDS. If you have those crappy one size fit all clamp on cable ends get some real battery cables NOW.

[19762802+2]

Also you might install a Switch that disconnects the battery all together it would be good thief prevention and save your battery when the car is off.

[NewZed]

I had a similar problem after upgrading to a zx alternator in a 1976 280Z. The brake warning lamp check relay was draining the battery. I had used the atlanticz instructions and the relay ended up "always hot" (not atlanticz's fault since the instructions were for a different car). With the old mechanical regulator the relay only got power when the motor was running.

 

If you hear a relay clicking when you reconnect a charged battery, it could be the problem.

 

I ended up cutting the relay off of the always on power circuit and splicing it in to the fuel pump circuit, which has a connector under the passenger seat, where the brake warning check relay is. The car will run and stop draining the battery if you just unplug it, but the red brake light in your dash won't work anymore.

 

According to the wiring diagram there is also an EGR solenoid on the same circuit as the brake check relay. My car doesn't have one but yours might.

[stravi757]

Okay so heres where im at, I found the power was draining from my ignition switch. turned out to be coming from the fuel pump wiring(I have a turbo swap). So the constant power wire going to the fuel pump relay is where its comming from. I tried taking the fuel pump relay out but the battery still drains. This wire hooked up to the constant power is also connected to the green wire on the fuel pump relay, so I think the problem is comming from that wire? sorry if thatw as really confusing.