Problems with a car's battery life, needs to run daily?

Question

My car won't run unless it is started everyday and runs for atleast 20 minutes, does anyone know what the problem is and how it can and should be addressed? Thanks.

Answer 1

1 of 2 problems. First its that you have something conitnuing to use power even though the car is turned off! This is most likely, -- second would be that the battery is getting sulphated up, sulphate inside has accumulated so deep that it is shorting out cells! Natural deterioration causes lead sulphate --( lead and sulpheric acid residue)!!



Now again the most likely problem is that it is using power and running the battery down. Do you have a power amplifier, add on theft alarm, CB,CD player or any of that kind of sutff? Is it all wired into circuits that turn olff with the ignition switch?? Also check to see that the interior light is not operating bacasue the "dash dimmer control" is turned to "max" and is keeping interior lights turned on,-- most cars are wired up that way! If you pull one battery terminal connector off, and "rake" it on post, (in subdued light) , - it will make visible spark, the bigger the spark the bigger the "draw" is! A very tiny spark is normal, as clock and some other things draw power all the time, but it is a very small amount! leave cable disconnected over weekend, and see if it is still "hot" and cranks good, --- another proof it is "sucking battery dry" from something in car! --- I the battery has no power to crank -- then the battery is bad!



Simplest of testers is to connect a fairly large (12 volt) light between cable and battery, if light burns bright, start pulling fuses and checking to see stuff is turned off, -- or disconnecting direct stuff wired in after car was purchased! When the light gets dimmer, you have found something, - if it goes entierely out, or you can just see a little orange on filiament, you have all the offending things out of circuit! Make sure everything that you unhooked unplugged or pulled fuses from is back in order, then find place to put stuff left to somewhere that is controlled by ingnition switch !



Now from time to time, an alternator will get a leaky diode in it and draw power also, so if you can't find any obvious problem, try removing plugs going in, and the "big" red cable connection on back of alt, -- (be very carfeful removing), ---better to have battery disconnected, add tape or cover so it does not short out while moving stuff around! If this turns out the light, then you need to have alt. fixed, or put on another one!

Answer 2

WHEN YOU SAY IT WONT RUN I THINK YOU ARE SAYING IT WILL NOT START OR THE BATT IS TO LOW TO START FIRST TAKE THE BATT CABLES AND CLEAN AND USE A POCKET KNIFE ON THE INSIDE OF THE LEAD TERMALS IF YOU HAVE THE OLDER KIND THE LEAD BUILDS UP A OXDATION AND WILL NOT LET THE VOLTS GET BACK TO THE BATT SO YOU HAVE TO DO IT EVERY DAY JUS TO GET A FEW VOLTS TO IT THE BATT CONECTION IS THE MOST OVER LOOKED PROBLEMS WITH THE BATT NOT GETTING VOLTS BACK TO IT===ALL ENDS OF BATT CABLES SPOTLESS PUT BACK WITH THIN COAT OF DI ELEC COMPOUND ON THEM MAKE SURE THEY ARE TIGHT BE CAREFUL PUTING TO TIGHT ON SYLOIND OR STARTER THEN YOU CAN FIND OUT IF IT IS TRULEY THE BATT THATS BAD OR THE ALT NOT PUTTING ENOUGH BACK TO THE BATT ONE OF THE LOW OUTPUTS ON THE ALT IS THE SPIDER DIEODE AND YOU CAN HAVE IT WORKED ON WITH NEW BRUSH AND NEW PC ON THE OLDER STYLE ALT THE NEWER ONES ARE REBUILDABLE BUT SOME ARE TOUGH TO TEAR DOWN NOW IF YOU TAKING ABOUT A RUN PROBLEM AND IT NOT THE BATT OR LOW OUTPUT ON BATT THEN YOU NEED TO CHECK A FEW THINGS LIKE THE FUEL PUMP IF ITS MORE THAN 4 OR 5 YEARS OLD AND IS A TANK PUMP THEY LOOSE PRESSURE AS THEY GET OLDER IF NOT THAT THEN YOU HAVE RELAYS THAT LET YOU START THE ENG WITH NO OIL PRESSURE THAN A RELAY THAT OVER RIDES THAT RELAY WHEN THE OIL PRESSURE COMES UP BOTH ARE PROBLEMS AND NEED TO FIND RELAYS AND CHECK THEM AT THE NAPA OR PARTS STORE IF STILL HARD TO START AND YOU HAVE HAD A HEATING PROBLEM IN THE PAST JUST REPLACE SPARK PULG S AND WIRES DIST CAP AND ROTOR IF YOU HAVE THEM ANY PROBLEMS AFTER THAT TAKE TO SHOP AND HAVE THEM FIND OUT WHAT IS GOING ON GOOD LUCK JFB

Answer 3

1. Battery may be near the end of its life and unable to hold much of a charge.



2. Alternator may be near the end of its life and not producing much current.



3. Alternator belt may be loose, causing the alternator to produce little current.



4. Wires may be loose, preventing much current from reaching the battery.



Check 3 & 4 yourself and make the obvious corrections.



For 1 & 2, take it to a garage and they will use their test equipment to give you an answer. You can then make the repair yourself, if you have the skill.

Answer 4

Probably old and dying. It is much cheaper to go to buy a brand new one with a warranty than dealing with it. You can also turn it in as a core charge and get money back, like at Walmart with a free install. You can cycle them down, and recharge them, and fill them if you know what you are doing, but if you don't, just get a new one. It's something I've learned instead of the headache and worrying. And I know how to do all of the above I've listed.

Answer 5

There could be 2 kinds of problems



(1) slow drain

(2) dying battery.



Most likely a dying battery. Some people will suspect slow drain, but in my experience car don't just develop slow drain.



Take your car to Autozone or sears and they will test your battery fro you free.





Good Luck....

Answer 6

There could be several problems.. You could have battery on it's last leg. There could be a drain on the battery. Such a bad alternaor. Where it is draining back though the alternaor. You can have it checked at Auto Zone. It will not cost you anything.

Answer 7

Take car to auto parts store for a diagnostics test

Answer 8

check around the car see if a light is on somewhere,glove box-trunk-hood,a light that would normally go off when you close it up,maybe staying on all the time............tom

Answer 9

drive it around for one more day until it stops, wherever it stops, just leave it there and buy an new car

Answer 10

sounds like it has a weak cell in it.