# Dead Battery

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/dead-battery/4377>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** batteries\
**Created:** [September 9, 2007, 11:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dead-battery/4377 "2007-09-09T23:53:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![cdavies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@cdavies](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cdavies)\
**Post date:** [September 9, 2007, 11:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dead-battery/4377/1 "2007-09-09T23:53:40Z")

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I just installed a new battery in my 1996 Chevy Lumina. The car sat for several weeks and now the battery is dead. How do I go about trouble shooting what is draining the battery?

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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:** [September 10, 2007, 12:22am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dead-battery/4377/2 "2007-09-10T00:22:37Z")

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There is a small and normal drain on any car battery. If a car sits for several works it may very well lead to a battery charge too low for starting. In other words, there may be nothing wrong with your car.

Of course, you never told us why you needed to replace the previous battery. Maybe that’s relevant, maybe not.

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**Author:** ![cdavies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@cdavies](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cdavies)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2007, 12:26am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dead-battery/4377/3 "2007-09-11T00:26:21Z")

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The old battery was replaced because it “didn’t seem to hold a charge”, which now I feel was really this other problem.

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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:** [September 11, 2007, 10:16am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dead-battery/4377/4 "2007-09-11T10:16:12Z")

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Use and amp meter to measure the current (not voltage) and start pulling fuses one at a time until the current reduces to a very low level. Then find out what is on that circuit.

Of course checking for glove box and trunk lights first might be a good idea.

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**Author:** ![Beadsandbeads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c57346/32.png) [@Beadsandbeads](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Beadsandbeads)\
**Post date:** [September 12, 2007, 8:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dead-battery/4377/5 "2007-09-12T20:32:38Z")

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Are you sure the new battery was fully charged when you parked the car?

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**Author:** ![Ed\_Cadalzo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@Ed\_Cadalzo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Ed_Cadalzo)\
**Post date:** [September 12, 2007, 9:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dead-battery/4377/6 "2007-09-12T21:18:11Z")

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Remove the light bulbs from the glove box, trunk and hood and then see it the battery goes dead again. These are the 3 items most overlooked and usuallyh stay on when they should go off.

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**Author:** ![cdavies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@cdavies](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cdavies)\
**Post date:** [September 16, 2007, 3:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dead-battery/4377/7 "2007-09-16T15:19:24Z")

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I would connect the AMP meter directly to the battery and look to a decrease a I start pulling fuses?