Electrical problems, please help. - Honda Forum / Acura Forum

eppo · 04-03-2006, 09:59 AM

i've been having electical problems on my 2001 acura integra since august.
here is the rundown:
in august, battery couldnt hold a charge, got a new one, seemed to fix the problem.
i dont use the car often, usually drive the new accord. so about a month ago i wanted to drive the teg again, after not being driven for 2 months or so, dead battery, unable to be charged. got a new one, since that one is under warrentee. havent had that one very long, but say i havent driven the car in a few weeks. yesterday when i went by it the alarm light was blinking ( the way it should be) today i try to go for a ride, battery dead.
i jumped it, drives fine, went for a 15 minute stop a go ride, came back, wouldnt start up. then i went for a 40 minute drive on the highway, came back, and there is absolutely no charge.
few things i noticed during my drive, if i flicked window/sunroof switches, the radio would act up. i'm sure at this point its just cause of the battery. though i would like some help troubleshooting. is there any way to troubleshoot the problem quickly. as apposed to getting a new battery, disconnecting my radio/amps, seeing if that does anything... disconnecting other stuff, see if that drains the battery. i do have a system in the car, put in after market guage faces, and 3 gauge pods. but all of that stuff has been in a while before i even had any problems.
please if anyone has any ideas please send them my way. a car that has problems makes me unhappy

thanks in advance,
joe

crazycrxtuner · 04-03-2006, 10:24 AM

it could possibly be youre alternator.

Mr GSR · 04-03-2006, 10:33 AM

The car would not run forlong if the alternator was bad. It would only be pulling off the battery if it was. You can start a car and take the battery out becasue the alternator keeps the system charged.
My guess is you have someshort running the battery deador you have a bad battery. Just start checking wiresand stuff for a bare wire touching something. Youmentioned analarm, check that also.

eppo · 04-03-2006, 12:55 PM

basically, say i unplug the system/alarm from the car, how would i know that i fixed the problem? i just let the car sit and if the battery doesnt go dead, i'm good? that could take quite a while. is there a tool that you can use to see if there is something that is trying to use juice from the battery?
yah, and it couldnt be my alternator, because battery goes dead when i dont run my car for long periods of time. i get 14v on my volt meter in my car when the car is running.
thanks in advance for any help.
joe

95integrars · 04-05-2006, 12:53 AM

i had the same problem. it was my alternator. i bought a new battery and it died on me a few days later. every time i drove the car, the lights, radio, power windows, etc would drain the battery until there was nothing left and my car wouldnt start. so i found out it was my alternator and replaced that. some other possible reason why you're having this problem could be the alternator drivebelt is no good anymore, faulty wiring in the charging circuit/ short in your wiring or your battery is just internally fucked. to find out if your alternator is the problem, start your car and let the engine run. then unhook the negative cable to your battery. if the engine shuts of then it's your alternator. just like what mr gsr said.

eppo · 04-10-2006, 10:18 AM

the problem is not my alternator. basically, what is happening, is the car battery will die, if i leave it sitting in the driveway for a few weeks. if i drive the car i have no problems. so is there a way to see if my battery is being drained? without leaving the car in the driveway for a few weeks to see if my battery is dead?