2 Dead batteries in 3 months Q's

[caoutback]

Ok. First off I'm not good at electrical goodies so sorry for the stupidness. I bought by 98 LOB in December and noticed when I'd start it or hit the brakes at idle the lights would dim. No big deal, put in an Optima Blue Top. 2 months later the battery is dead. Replaced with Napa sealed battery and all was good for a month, then started up again. Replaced alternator with new from Kragen. All was good for a month or two. Went to start my car this morning and had a dead battery :evil: . My car is stock minus a hard wired radio (that I turn off before the car and has no clock) and a grounding kit. Went to Kragen after getting the car jumped and all was good with the alternator/ battery. What could it be????? I have no idea and don't want to spend $$$$ having the stealership try and trace it down to tell me nothing is wrong.

[Reason]

Well since you have a new alt and batt how is the belt? Is it tight? What shape is it in. I wonder if something is grounding out somewhere.

OH, let me ask you this. Do you have a phone charger plugged in the cig lighter? If you leave it there overnight or something that will do it. I did it twice already to the neon.

[caoutback]

Belt is good and tight and as far as I know, the cig lighter goes out when the car is off (tried charging my phone with the car off with no luck) but, no I don't leave the charger plugged into it unless driving. As for shorts, I have no idea. The only thing I'm good at electrically is releasing the smoke from the wires :lol: .

[Reason]

Well IIRC mine shut off, I figured it did the same in the Neon...nope, I can charge my phone with the car off. Now I was second guessing if the light went off or not on my Legacy.

[shazapple]

The battery was dead as in it would not hold a charge? Did you have any reason to replace the alternator or battery other than the car being dead? Did you get the alternator or batteries tested?

I'd look at your grounding kit, make sure everything is tight and where it should be. Then check to see if there is anything else draining the battery (stereo, overhaed light, etc). Maybe test the alternator just to make sure it isn't a dud.

[MR.MCSICK]

Make sure the light in the glovebox goes out when its closed. Mine was staying on so I ended up removing the bulb all together.

[caoutback]

I'll look into the glove box light and as for the grounding kit, I put it in after the alternator and battery swaps. The battery I had before ended up being a dud, the old alternator I'm not sure about. I know everything worked great (no dimming or anything for about a month max) then started the dimming again. My overhead lights are never left on, the stereo gets removed when car is off (XM stays though) and was installed professionally after the first run in with this problem (had OEM until). Kragen tested the alternator and battery and said all was good so...... Guess it'll be off to the dealership when I get the time.

[ProdriveDreams]

Has anyone done a voltage drop test on the wire that runs from the positive terminal on the battery to the post on top of the alternator?
suspect corrosion either there or on the voltage sensing wire that feeds your regulator. If either of these have excessive resistance they will fry alternators and batteries left and right and no amount of blind parts replacement will end this problem. If you have a friend with a multi meter get them to do voltage drop tests. Remember to do them under load.

[Svenerachi]

I would suggest making sure your battery terminals are clean, then re-doing all of your grounds... sounds like a bad connection somewhere.

just so you don't think i'm just repeating what everyone said, I'm an electrician and those are the only things that SHOULD allow that to happen.

when you do the grounds, make sure you strip the paint to the bare metal and use a wire brush to clean it up and make sure its nice and secure.

GL!