What's draining my battery?
 

Well I now have all my mechanical problems sorted out, but for some reason now the battery dies over night. The alternator does charge, but when I go to start it in the morning, nothing. Change out the battery and bam, starts right up.

So where could the problem have arisen? Where should I check? I'm just assuming something is grounding out or something went bad. Any advice is appreciated.

Could it be the battery leads for some reason? The possitive lead from battery to the solenoid is cracked quite a bit, but i wrapped it in tape for now. Could damaged battery leads cause the battery to drain for whatever reason?

someone please help, its the only problem left on my car :D (for now haha)

RE: What's draining my battery?
 

What kind of radio do you have?
Do you have a clock?
If you disconnect the battery over night, is it still dead?
Start there.
Jim

RE: What's draining my battery?
 

Before you even try to find the source of the drain, take the car to a parts place and have them test the battery. If one of the cells is dead, it will drain the others, shorting out internally. Now, if the battery tests out to be good, then start the head scratching search for where it might be getting a draw from.
I had to replace mine a few weeks ago, because the battery posts on the side had made contact with the radiator support bracket, so be sure you get a battery (Interstate brand) with no side mounts.

RE: What's draining my battery?
 

+1 on both responses!!!

RE: What's draining my battery?
 

There is a good article on Mustang electrics in the new Mustang Monthly Mag. It explains how to check what you are dealing with.

RE: What's draining my battery?
 

Mine was doing the exact same thing.Ended up being the voltage regulator.

RE: What's draining my battery?
 

ya if you have the stock setup the voltage reg can short causeing this....

disconnect the neg battery cable and between the battery and the cable install your test light if it lights up bright you have a short.. unplug stuff wile watching the test light when it dims a good amout that circute has the problem..

a few tips..

use a test light with like a tail light bulb( or make one)because the "test light" with the little tiny bulb inside lights up with such little voltage it wont turn off

and second if unplugging the voltage regulator doesnt dim the light start pulling fuses thats one of the easyest ways to eliminate large peices of the car at a time..

good luck, JOSH

RE: What's draining my battery?
 

I have an Autolite battery that is only like two months old and it drains it in a snap. The other battery I switch it out with is a NEW (well rebuilt i guess) truck battery and it still drains that.

My radio and clock are not hooked up to a power source.

And my voltage regulator is brand new, and the draining still occurs. However I did blow that up with the positive lead.... (don't ask) but it looks fine. Besides it was draining before i blew it up...

I can put my old regulator on and see if things change.

Oh and it does not drain when I disconnect it. Or if it does it is slower and unnoticable.

ANOTHER NOTE: After I shut off of my engine, I hear an odd noise comming from the battery, kinda crackly but a hiss also in a way. very difficult to describe. It appears to be comming from the negative side. Could this sound indicate a damaged battery?

RE: What's draining my battery?
 

I would say so...Maybe the electrolytes for whatever reason have boiled out and its heating up too much.id change cuz boiling too long can equal explosion and exploding batteries a baaaad[sm=crossbonesgif.gif]

RE: What's draining my battery?
 

Two of my cars have battery disconnect switches so I don't kill the batterys. I don't drive them daily so I don't care if the clocks are off and both have beautiful AM radios so I don't loose radio settings. Try Eastwood www.eastwood.com p/n 25053 $9.99, a lot cheaper that a battery.
Jim