Battery drain question...

[Foote 10+ year member]

Ok, check it...I've had problems with my battery draining (no sound system in it, btw) in the van....anyway...it'd just keep going dead over night. But...when i charged it to like 12v the van would boost it up to 14 so i guess that means its not the altenator. So, I tried another battery (not new, but I think it was good..) and got the same problem...

Tonight I went out and looked around and noticed the negative bolt in the battery side post was "wiggle-able" so, I tried to tighten it ( I should mention that I recently purchased this van by the way)...and it wouldn't tighten. So, I take it out and it turns out the bolt was too short to sit tight in the side post's hole thingy. So, I went to advance and bought a proper one...put it in and now its snug. ALSO I noticed a spot where I'm guessing the driver side head light is grounded..with the negative battery cable...right there above the headlight under the hood...well the what I call "headlight ground cable" was ridiculously loose (by the way, that driver side light had been going out and being dim off and on)...So, I tightened that up too and then the light is bright now //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

ULTIMATELY my question is: Could these loose grounds have been what drained, even with the car off, my battery? Is my problem most likely fixed? Or should I expect to wake up tomorrow to another dead battery //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gif ? ? ?

Thanks for any help.

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[Mynameismcgyver 10+ year member]

What year make model van?

 

[Foote 10+ year member]

What year make model van?

I'm not sure why that matters...but GMC Safari van, 93.

 

[Mynameismcgyver 10+ year member]

Fords and Chevy's are even more so likely to have this problem.. That is why I ask. I would put my money on that something is drawing power when the vehicle is off....The terminal issue wouldn't cause your problem but anytime you have a positive wire touching a ground can cause issues...Which could be a cause for your battery drainage. Just a guess w/o seeing the van up close. My dad would have a better idea if you still have a problem tomorrow. Ill check in.

 

[Foote 10+ year member]

:wow:A positive wire touching? I think I'd notice that...wouldn't that make like...a weld?

 

[Rashaddd 5,000+ posts]

I had a short in one of my window switches that drains my battery over time, I cut the wire that was screwed up somewhere, and haven't gotten around to actually fixing it yet

it has nothing to do with the things you mentioned fixing, in fact, those things may have been slowing down its effects if anything lol...expect to wake up to another dead battery

we have an electrical help section btw

 

[jdawg90 10+ year member]

:wow:A positive wire touching? I think I'd notice that...wouldn't that make like...a weld?

yea that's exactly what he meant... just look for sparks, smoke, and smoldering steel and you should find it

 

[Foote 10+ year member]

actually..it started this morning with no problem. Hope it continues to do so. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[groundpound4200 5,000+ posts]

you do realize this is the lounge right?

on that note, I recommend you check for continuity in your battery by touching a large metal object connecting both terminals. Remember, sparks means its working

 

[Foote 10+ year member]

Well...it was dead again this morning.

 

[Mynameismcgyver 10+ year member]

Ill ask my pops.