Okay i have a prelude but i also have a 96 civic dx hatch that’s bone stock. I am having a problem with my civic. I am posting this in the prelude forum because it seems to me like you guys know more about the technical part of cars better then the civic guys.

The problem:

The car when i bought it a couple days ago had a dead battery that couldn’t keep a charge. So i replaced it with a die hard Gold battery. The car started right up for that day but when i parked it over night, the next morning the battery was dead. So i jumped the car it started right up, and tested the alternator, which looks new and is in very good condition. After driving a couple miles i parked it for the night, and the same thing happen the next morning. Since the car is bone stock, with no alarm or anything, i don’t know where to look for what’s causing the battery to drain. The radio is also stock, but there is an after market sun roof.

Can I use a multi meter (volt meter) to check every fuse to see how much power is running though them when car is off? Would that help determine the source of the problem?

Things to know:
Alternator looks new (works great)
Distributor is new
Battery is Brand new

 

Yes, you can use a multimeter/voltimeter to check the charge on the battery. check it before you park, and in the morning when you want to start the car. If it dropped then there has to be something thats eating the battery.

Check that out, and then tell us what you get.

 

To find a draw your going to need a meter that reads amps. But let me ask you a question first. Have you checked you charging system? Just looking at the alt. isnt good enough. Take it to a auto parts store and have it tested. Once you rule out the charging system you need to start testing for a draw. Most cars can take .25 amps draw without a problem. Its when you get past half an amp. I would also make sure it doesnt have an alarm. Even though you said it doesnt, that doesnt mean it didn't and someone didnt take it out all the way. Once you get a meter that reads amps. Take the neg of the battery and connect the meter inline with the batterys neg. Then close up the car and take care to make sure there is no hood switch, if there is just push it down. If there is a draw on the meter , start pulling fuses til its gone.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Rob97’SH &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">To find a draw your going to need a meter that reads amps. But let me ask you a question first. Have you checked you charging system? Just looking at the alt. isnt good enough. Take it to a auto parts store and have it tested. Once you rule out the charging system you need to start testing for a draw. Most cars can take .25 amps draw without a problem. Its when you get past half an amp. I would also make sure it doesnt have an alarm. Even though you said it doesnt, that doesnt mean it didn't and someone didnt take it out all the way. Once you get a meter that reads amps. Take the neg of the battery and connect the meter inline with the batterys neg. Then close up the car and take care to make sure there is no hood switch, if there is just push it down. If there is a draw on the meter , start pulling fuses til its gone.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Great idea
thanks i will try this on friday, and post an update

 

Also, be sure that the new battery you got isn't just a bad one... I spent the last three weeks trying to find a short in one of my cars that didn't exist. Turns out the old battery was just spent, and then when I got the new one, it was bad, wouldn't take or hold a charge... Have the new battery tested too.

Good luck.

 

The most important thing is to remember that amps have to be read in SERIES. To expound on what Rob said, you need to hook one lead of the multimeter to the battery post and the other lead to the wire you took off the post - so the flow is through the meter. Also make sure you're reading amps.

Just wanted to emphasize b/c a lot of people don't read amps right.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Lewdin’ Incognito &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The most important thing is to remember that amps have to be read in SERIES. To expound on what Rob said, you need to hook one lead of the multimeter to the battery post and the other lead to the wire you took off the post - so the flow is through the meter. Also make sure you're reading amps.

Just wanted to emphasize b/c a lot of people don't read amps right.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I tried this and couldnt find the short, any more suggestions?

 

if its ur DD, why dont u just pop the hood when ur done driving and disconnect the battery until u find the problem. save urself a little green