dead battery

[Lamah]

ok, here goes. My 91 explorer lately has been having the battery die on it over night. Nothing has been left on. When the key is off and i disconnect the battery, there is a click. It sounds like its comming from the box behind the solenoid. i'm wondering if this could be the problem. i dont know if this is normal for it to click. it clicks once when you connect it and makes a humming sound, like a motor turning, then clicks again. when i dissconect it, it clicks once.

i'm really lost on this and any help is appreciated. I plan to take it to my local shop, but i want to get some opinions first.

thanks,
Jeff aka Lamah

 

[jimbo74]

i dont think that click is the problem. that click is present when power is applied or removed.

take your battery to kragen or somehthing and get it tested. it sounds as if your battery is just dead. maybe time for a new one.

 

[Lamah]

nah, its a brand new battery, and the second one at that. I had it tested at a local murray's and it was fine. they tested the alternator, too. I think i'm just gonna have to face the music and take it to the shop.

thanks,
Jeff aka Lamah

 

[jimbo74]

maybe voltage regulator. it is on the outside of the alternator and has given many X owners problems ie dead batteries or low voltage or hard stars etc....

 

[Lamah]

would that cause it to drain over time or would it just cause it to not charge ? this dies over a period of time ( i think, though that really sounds like the problem ive been having)

 

[mdrut]

could be the regulator..It does exactly as the name implies..Regulates the amount of voltage going to and coming from the battery..Stuck"closed" the battery will not charge, even if the alternator is good, stuck "open" the battery will over charge, High volt reading and eventually kill your battery..probally be best to take it to the shop, be cheaper in the long run, because it could be a relay stuck or a fan motor or anything else that requires power..The shop should be able to find the open curcuit for you..

 

[Lamah]

*shrug*

I think i'll just take it to the shop, no use takin chances. the place is trust worthy.

thanks for the help,
Jeff aka Lamah

 

[shooter_1000]

Hi there....I agree with Gimp. There is something drawing current that should not be. Here is something you can try to determine the current drain the system is putting on your battery when everything is shut off.

First remove the underhood light bulb. Then remove one of your battery cables and hook up an ammeter in series. (If you are unfamiliar with the term series, put your removed battery cable to one terminal on the meter and connect the other terminal to the battery.) This will show you the current that is being drawn. You will need an ammeter that will show you milliamps, cause there should be very little draw when everything is shut down.

I am not sure offhand what the current draw should be with the vehicle turned off, but it should be very low, I am thinking about 25 milliamps just to maintain your radio and computer memories. If you are seeing more, I would look where the power is being drawn.

Since you said there is a clicking coming from the power ditribution box, I would think there is something drawing current that should not be. You can isolate it by watching the ammeter and removing 1 relay at a time and then moving on and removing 1 of those large fuses at a time. When you find the relay and or fuse that is carrying your drain current, you can look in your owners manual and determine what it operates and begin looking there for a short or problem with that device.

 

[Lamah]

just keepin ya'll posted, turns out it was a shorting out relay that costs 12 bucks .... but labor on it was 98 ... heh. fun fun.

thanks anyway for the help,
jeff aka Lamah

 

[Lamah]

that is odd ... dont be gettin any fantasy's about me now j/k

yeah, theres no way idda figured it out unless i took it in. I guess if i had fully read shooter's post i woulda seen the relay stuff ... he sure nailed the problem. oh well


thanks again,
jeff aka Lamah