Said It Here

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.

  1. 1
    Replacing the battery repeatedly
  2. 2
    testing battery voltage with a multimeter
  3. 3
    removing the negative battery cable when the car is not in use
  4. 4
    having kids wait outside to remove the battery cable as soon as the car is turned off
  5. 5
    repeatedly jumping the car
  6. 6
    charging the battery frequently
  7. 7
    performing a draw test with a multimeter and pulling relays
  8. 8
    Testing the battery while unhooked
  9. 9
    Checking the alternator and grounding
  10. 10
    installing a battery disconnect switch or kill switch
  11. 11
    jump starting the car every morning
  12. 12
    Checking connections and alternator
  13. 13
    Testing for a parasitic draw with a multimeter
  14. 14
    keeping the negative disconnected while it wasn't in use
  15. 15
    jumping it with the new battery
  16. 16
    trying to DIY it
  17. 17
    replacing parts repeatedly
  18. 18
    testing for parasitic drain
  19. 19
    having the alternator tested at auto parts stores
  20. 20
    asking for advice on online forums
  21. 21
    getting a jump start from AAA
  22. 22
    driving to recharge the battery
  23. 23
    Charging the battery and waiting to see if it dies again
  24. 24
    Checking 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 againsource ↗

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 ↗

Elisa Edwards · Mechanics Stack Exchange · 7 upvotes

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 ↗

MetalMando86 · r/MechanicAdvice · 2 upvotes

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 ↗

Legitimate-Tank1934 · r/AskMechanics · 1 upvotes

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 ↗

lostmostofit · r/AskMechanics · 1 upvotes

After market: a charger cable, Everything looks tight Will have to get a multi meter, don't have onesource ↗

lostmostofit · r/AskMechanics · 1 upvotes

I’m dying here. And so has my battery recently.source ↗

Had my aftermarket radio uninstalled but it’s still making crazy noisessource ↗

Poketrevor · r/MechanicAdvice · 1 upvotes

So in the past 2 days ive had 3 batteries go bad on me.source ↗

Wonderful-Reward3828 · r/MechanicAdvice · 1 upvotes

I should mention that its testing bad with it unhookedsource ↗

Wonderful-Reward3828 · r/MechanicAdvice · 1 upvotes

Fwiw all the batteries tested bad unhookedsource ↗

Wonderful-Reward3828 · r/MechanicAdvice · 1 upvotes

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 ↗

rememberwhoyouarex · r/MechanicAdvice · 1 upvotes

battery light won’t go away and battery can’t stay charged and this started after mechanic installed the startersource ↗

Ashamed_District6127 · r/MechanicAdvice · 1 upvotes

trying to diagnose a car for 3 weeks replace parts while the problem still occurs and on top the shop can’t diagnose nothingsource ↗

Ashamed_District6127 · r/MechanicAdvice · 1 upvotes

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 twicesource ↗

Ashamed_District6127 · r/MechanicAdvice · 1 upvotes

Monday morning it wouldn't start.source ↗

Next morning, dead again.source ↗

zionstatus · r/MechanicAdvice · 1 upvotes

So my dads 2009 camry died a few days ago.source ↗

what might be going on?source ↗

v-a-g · r/MechanicAdvice · 1 upvotes

Where this came up

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