Car battery keeps dying even after replacing battery and alternator
A severe electrical draw continues to zap the battery within hours or even seconds of shutting off the engine, bypassing new parts entirely. This leaves drivers stranded repeatedly and unable to keep the vehicle running without constantly disconnecting the negative battery cable.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1Replacing the battery repeatedly
- 2testing battery voltage with a multimeter
- 3removing the negative battery cable when the car is not in use
- 4having kids wait outside to remove the battery cable as soon as the car is turned off
- 5repeatedly jumping the car
- 6charging the battery frequently
- 7performing a draw test with a multimeter and pulling relays
- 8Testing the battery while unhooked
- 9Checking the alternator and grounding
- 10installing a battery disconnect switch or kill switch
- 11jump starting the car every morning
- 12Checking connections and alternator
- 13Testing for a parasitic draw with a multimeter
- 14keeping the negative disconnected while it wasn't in use
- 15jumping it with the new battery
- 16trying to DIY it
- 17replacing parts repeatedly
- 18testing for parasitic drain
- 19having the alternator tested at auto parts stores
- 20asking for advice on online forums
- 21getting a jump start from AAA
- 22driving to recharge the battery
- 23Charging the battery and waiting to see if it dies again
- 24Checking alternator voltage while the car is running
In their words
Unedited, most upvoted first, each linked to the thread it came from.
“Started noticing car didn’t want start but jumped easily.”source ↗
“Within 48 hours of replacement battery needed to be jumped again”source ↗
“Within 24 hours of alternator replacement battery needed to be jumped again.”source ↗
“Started to notice that battery would be zapped within SECONDS if battery neg cable was not removed quickly enough after being driven and turned off.”source ↗
“So about a month ago. My 09 Mitsubishi Eclipse started experiencing a parasitic draw. It would drain my battery overnight.”source ↗
“Now, the car is acting like battery is dead even though I bought a brand new one. It won't even acknowledge that the key has been put in the ignition.”source ↗
“He's at a loss. I'm at a loss. And every other mechanic I've talked to has no idea what's going on.”source ↗
“I can't take it to a shop because I'm broke. My car is how I make money. And without a working car. I can't go to work. Which means I can't pay to get it fixed.”source ↗
“Then she says but that one was dead the next day we went to move it. Ok...so now my vehicle has been towed back (it died in my garage before I could leave for work the next day) had additional diagnostics run by the shop and then again by their calibration company and blew several fuses in their equipment and no cause could be determined.”source ↗
“S.F. won't pay for any more diagnostics as they can't confirm its crash related (drain began the week after the accident before I could get it into the shop).”source ↗
“I have now switched 3 batteries in the last 1 year and they all keep dying on my 2015 Honda civic.”source ↗
“Currently my month old battery won't crank the car.”source ↗
“After market: a charger cable, Everything looks tight Will have to get a multi meter, don't have one”source ↗
“I’m dying here. And so has my battery recently.”source ↗
“Had my aftermarket radio uninstalled but it’s still making crazy noises”source ↗
“So in the past 2 days ive had 3 batteries go bad on me.”source ↗
“I should mention that its testing bad with it unhooked”source ↗
“Fwiw all the batteries tested bad unhooked”source ↗
“that brake light keeps flashing when I turn off the car and leave it outside. It’s been killing my battery every morning so I’ve been having to jump start it every morning and need a fix.”source ↗
“battery light won’t go away and battery can’t stay charged and this started after mechanic installed the starter”source ↗
“trying to diagnose a car for 3 weeks replace parts while the problem still occurs and on top the shop can’t diagnose nothing”source ↗
“my battery is 3 days old as parasitic drain I just tested to see if my battery can keep charged and it can’t and alternator passed twice”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 2Is my car battery dead or is it the alternator?
- 7Car won't start or shift gears after dead battery
- 11Intermittent car hesitation with no trouble codes
- 6Why does my car lose power for a second when starting?
- 7Thermostat showing low voltage and no power
- 2What to do when a car battery starts smoking or boiling