# Battery drain

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/battery-drain/40086>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** chevrolet, malibu\
**Created:** [November 28, 2009, 5:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/battery-drain/40086 "2009-11-28T17:25:01Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Linbec](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e4f/32.png) [@Linbec](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Linbec)\
**Post date:** [November 28, 2009, 5:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/battery-drain/40086/1 "2009-11-28T17:25:01Z")

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My 2002 Chevy Malibu has about 102,000 miles on it but now the battery drains shortly after start up, my mechanic has checked a number of things & was wondering if it’s a factory installed security feature & if so what do we do?

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**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\
**Post date:** [November 28, 2009, 5:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/battery-drain/40086/2 "2009-11-28T17:30:50Z")

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Find a new mechanic…Try the “search” feature of this board…

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**Author:** ![SteveF](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/stevef/32/2_2.png) [@SteveF](https://community.cartalk.com/u/SteveF)\
**Post date:** [November 28, 2009, 8:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/battery-drain/40086/3 "2009-11-28T20:26:16Z")

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Not clear what you mean by “shortly after start up.” You mean while driving? Or soon after shut down? BTW, no working security feature drains a battery quickly.

If this is the original battery, replace battery. If it’s a new battery, I agree with suggestion to replace mechanic.

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**Author:** ![hellokit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6a8cbe/32.png) [@hellokit](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hellokit)\
**Post date:** [November 28, 2009, 8:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/battery-drain/40086/4 "2009-11-28T20:31:04Z")

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Let one of the auto parts stores check the battery and alternator (a curb side, free, service). The alternator may not be charging.