Nailing down the infamous dead battery problem

[freefallpat]

Hi everyone, I little while back, I posted a thread about my car’s electrical system cutting off intermittently. I took it back to the dealer and they said the alternator was faulty but since my car was red flagged because of all the mods, it was my dollar. No big deal, I guess you have to pay to play. Anyway, I took the car home after a good one hour drive and parked it for 2,3 weeks. I went to start it back up and the battery was completely drained. I already read a few posts in here about this problem but never really found out for sure what was causing it. I charged to battery back up last night and put it back in the car this morning. Here is what I’m seeing. Over 14 Vdc at the battery when the car is running. With the Amps meter connected to the battery, I was reading 0.12amps with everything turned off. I read somewhere in here that the Shaker could keep a load on the battery if you turn the car off when the radio is turned on. I decided to play with that a little with the amp meter plugged in and it finally did it. Out of 20 times I turn the ignition on and off with the radio turned on and then off, I saw it 3 times. - The CD changer would go nuts for 2 minutes with the car turned off and would eventually die. The load on the battery would remain around 2.4 amps and stay there. Is any body else seeing this? Patrick

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[algregory]

I have the stock Premium package in my '05 GT, not the one with the stuff in the trunk. I haven't had any issues. I turn the car off with the radio or CD playing all the time, I almost never have the sound system off. I only use the GT on weekends, so it sits at least a week at a time, always seems ready to go. On occassion it sits longer than a week, maybe two, still no issues.

[hammeron]

well if the 2.4 amps really stayed there indefinately on those
rare occasions, there's no doubt in my mind that it would drain
the battery in short order. for those who don't drive their car
for weeks at a time, the problem would be more significant.

nice job on the voltage/current measurements btw

ORIGINAL: freefallpat



Hi everyone,

I little while back, I posted a thread about my car’s electrical system cutting off intermittently. I took it back to the dealer and they said the alternator was faulty but since my car was red flagged because of all the mods, it was my dollar. No big deal, I guess you have to pay to play.
Anyway, I took the car home after a good one hour drive and parked it for 2,3 weeks. I went to start it back up and the battery was completely drained. I already read a few posts in here about this problem but never really found out for sure what was causing it. I charged to battery back up last night and put it back in the car this morning.

Here is what I’m seeing.

Over 14 Vdc at the battery when the car is running.

With the Amps meter connected to the battery, I was reading 0.12amps with everything turned off.

I read somewhere in here that the Shaker could keep a load on the battery if you turn the car off when the radio is turned on. I decided to play with that a little with the amp meter plugged in and it finally did it. Out of 20 times I turn the ignition on and off with the radio turned on and then off, I saw it 3 times.
- The CD changer would go nuts for 2 minutes with the car turned off and would eventually die. The load on the battery would remain around 2.4 amps and stay there.

Is any body else seeing this?

Patrick

[freefallpat]

I guess we can make this reason # 651 why the Shaker is crap....

ORIGINAL: hammeron

well if the 2.4 amps really stayed there indefinately on those
rare occasions, there's no doubt in my mind that it would drain
the battery in short order. for those who don't drive their car
for weeks at a time, the problem would be more significant.

nice job on the voltage/current measurements btw

[goxley11]

That's interesting. I have had problems with a dead battery. I sometimes leave it parked in the garage for 1-2 weeks at a time. Sometimes the battery is dead, sometimes not. I jump start it and it's fine. I'm going to make a point of turning off the Shaker each time.

Thanks a lot.

[Ford_Dude]

just wondering what size optima will fit
I plan on putting in a red Optima and a 160 Apm MSD alternator at some point
BTW I haven't had any power trouble
you should check the amps while running it see if the alternator is providing enough power to charge the battery

[rex7010]

Same on my end.. the first time it was dead ( the battery ) I couldn't believe it...??? a dead battery on a NEW car.. I don't care how long it has set .. it shouldn't go dead in a few weeks.. in fact it shouldn't go dead in a month of not driving... think how long cars sit on the lot before being sold..
I have seen cars on the lot for a year and start right up... ( when I was a mechanic )

thanks for the great info.. I was about to take it back and tell Ford I need a new battery...
like that would happen.. still love her though

Rex

ORIGINAL: goxley11

That's interesting. I have had problems with a dead battery. I sometimes leave it parked in the garage for 1-2 weeks at a time. Sometimes the battery is dead, sometimes not. I jump start it and it's fine. I'm going to make a point of turning off the Shaker each time.

Thanks a lot.

[Dineau]

I read somewhere that putting the shaker on Radio rather than CD before shutting it down will prevent the unit for going crazy shuffling th CD inside.

Worth give it a try....

[2cokeman]

Here we go again, I had the same problem with my 06 auto, 07 5 speed, so far so good!!

[SkullE404]

This happened to me 1 hour ago.

Drive the car on Sunday...all ok.
Start the car up today (thursday) and 80% drained.

All of a sudden the CD changer goes nuts. Pull out all 3 CD's and it goes back to normal.

I think i'll be keeping the CD's out of the shaker when its parked to see if that helps.