# Rain + battery =stranded

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/rain-battery-stranded/42919>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** mercedes-benz\
**Created:** [January 20, 2010, 11:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rain-battery-stranded/42919 "2010-01-20T23:00:15Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![77powderblue300D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/7/5daacb/32.png) [@77powderblue300D](https://community.cartalk.com/u/77powderblue300D)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 11:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rain-battery-stranded/42919/1 "2010-01-20T23:00:15Z")

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It has been raining all week and my car won’t start. It has a new alternator and battery. However, the car is old and leaky and I just noticed that the the negative terminal wire was in a small puddle of water where it bolts to the frame under the hood. Could this be the reason for the battery losing charge? Pardon my ignorance.

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**Author:** ![tardis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f0a364/32.png) [@tardis](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tardis)\
**Post date:** [January 21, 2010, 12:17am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rain-battery-stranded/42919/2 "2010-01-21T00:17:54Z")

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No. Water leaking into the electronics anywhere might be the cause.

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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:** [January 21, 2010, 12:29am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rain-battery-stranded/42919/3 "2010-01-21T00:29:49Z")

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If the terminal isn’t making good electrical connection, the alternator CAN’T charge the battery. Loose the terminal hold down bolt and re-tighten. This should give a better connection. Another way to check the connection is with an electrical multimeter (voltmeter).