# Battery power drain

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/battery-power-drain/38908>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** chevrolet, malibu, batteries\
**Created:** [November 1, 2009, 5:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/battery-power-drain/38908 "2009-11-01T17:17:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Petterr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecb155/32.png) [@Petterr](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Petterr)\
**Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 5:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/battery-power-drain/38908/1 "2009-11-01T17:17:18Z")

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When I leave my 2007 Maibu two days or more without starting the battery goes dead.With a quick jump it starts.  
  
 Overnight it usually starts normally.

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**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\
**Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 6:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/battery-power-drain/38908/2 "2009-11-01T18:24:47Z")

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Have your local auto parts store check the battery and charging system. I suggest that first since it is generally free and it can rule out some possibilities.

Beyond that you need to have a meter capable of measuring current (not just voltage) and measure the drain with the engine off. Remember that the drain will usually go up and down a few times after you shut it off so just one reading is not enough.

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**Author:** ![Petterr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecb155/32.png) [@Petterr](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Petterr)\
**Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 4:20am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/battery-power-drain/38908/3 "2009-11-02T04:20:31Z")

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The battery is new and they said it is charging correctly

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**Author:** ![Cougar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cougar/32/21348_2.png) [@Cougar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cougar)\
**Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 7:15am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/battery-power-drain/38908/4 "2009-11-02T07:15:45Z")

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There is a power drain on the battery, something is causing a load on the battery when it shouldn’t be. You need to have a shop check the system out for a parasitic current drain.