I had a Maxima that did the same thing. Check that your brake light switch
isn't coming on when you're not looking.
On the Maxima it turned out that once it sat in the garage for a while (e.g.
overnight or for a few hours) the weight of the brake pedal would make the
return spring give up just the slightest amount and let the pedal down just
a hair which then engaged the brake light switch which then ran the battery
down. This happened enough times over and over that the battery eventually
lost the charging battle (my wife also only a short way (4 blocks) to work).
When I put the charger on the battery and went out to check it the brakes
lights were burning brightly against the garage door. When I investigated I
found if I pulled the pedal "up" the brake lights went out. The solution
was an adjustment of the brake light switch...it had a lock nut that let me
move it "down" so that it wouldn't come on by itself.
The tricky part was that when the car was first parked into the garage the
brake lights were off because the pedal hadn't move enough yet to let the
brake lights come on and when you came out in the morning the battery was
drained so the brake lights still weren't on...it was only when I put the
charger on and the car sat for awhile that the pedal moved AND there was
still power in the morning to see that the brake lights were on. It was a
real mystery for awhile. But a real victory when I figured it out.
It made me think that maybe that's why I'd gotten such a good deal on the
car when I bought it....the PO probably had this baffling electronic problem
that drained battery constantly. Fortunately for me it turned out to be a
simple brake switch adjustment problem.
Hope your problem has as simple a solution.
Bud Rolofson
----- Original Message -----
From: "Gary Nafziger" <naffy@netins.net>
To: <triumphs@autox.team.net>
Sent: Friday, January 05, 2001 2:23 PM
Subject: non-british but "HELP"!!!
>
> Just want some help and thot maybe other list members may have had a
similar
> experience. Have a 95 Plymouth Neon.......wife car......she just bought
it
> from a friend who put in another engine.....(salvage) the car has been
> draining battery every 3-4 weeks......had it to my favorite independant
> mechanic and he can find no drain above normal. took it to dealership
> "technician" who can also not find a drain at all. I know one time the
> battary was drained due to trunk lid not fully closed and light on (wife
> went out after work to find car with trunk blown open) also wife drives 2
> blocks to work......maybe not enuf driving to recharge battary over a
period
> of time?? Battary is new (2 months old) and is interstate brand....had it
> back to local gas station for recheck and they say it is ok.
>
> Am stumped except that maybe we should just drive it more? Or thot of
> swithching the battery with my other car......and see which one causes
> trouble.......has anyone else had troubles such as this?? could there be
> an intermittant short problem??
>
> any help appreciated!!!
> Gary, Frances Nafziger
> Box 25
> Wellman, Iowa
> naffy@netins.net
|