Batteries???

[SinisterA4]

So everytime I leave my car for more than 48 hours without driving it, the car won't start. I took it to my mechanic and he checked to see if there were any draws, nothing. He tested the altenator...nothing. So tonight he is checking the battery. The only reason he didn't do that first is because the battery is 2 months old. The battery is a cheapo from Autozone.

Can anyone else think of anything else it might be?

Honestly, I just need it to run for 2 more weeks. I am closing on my house on Wednesday of next week and then I am trading the car in.

Thanks for the help in advance.

[trueno429]

are your battery terminals tightened fully? if they're loose they might be the problem

[SinisterA4]

Hmmmm...never checked that simple thing. They are throwing a new battery in it tonight and hopefully they will tighten the terminals.

[T0M3K]

I noticed that everyone is usually checking for voltage drop, but I wonder if connecting amp-meter will yield better result of battery drain. But anyway, my guess is that battery just doesn't hold charge internally and dissipates it also internally. Recall battery.

[Audi Skate Snow]

Well there are a few things you can do a test on.

Battery Load test
Static Voltage test (just having dirt and water on top of battery could help drain it)
get a hydrometer and test the electrolytes....or even make sure there is water in there :)

Alternator test, make sure it is drawing the correct amount of amperage with car on and all accessories on.

there are quite a few test...if you need any more help let me know.

a DMM will do most of the test, except for a load test and some others you will need a VAT

[B-Rob]

Hmmmm...never checked that simple thing. They are throwing a new battery in it tonight and hopefully they will tighten the terminals.

Corrosion is a common one, too. Always worth checking the simple stuff first.

[SinisterA4]

Well there are a few things you can do a test on.

Battery Load test
Static Voltage test (just having dirt and water on top of battery could help drain it)
get a hydrometer and test the electrolytes....or even make sure there is water in there :)

Alternator test, make sure it is drawing the correct amount of amperage with car on and all accessories on.

there are quite a few test...if you need any more help let me know.

a DMM will do most of the test, except for a load test and some others you will need a VAT

Thanks for the input. I get the car back with a new battery and we will see what will happen. We tested the altenator already with and without accessories and that came out good. I am hoping that this is a recall battery and that the new higher quality one will help. I shouldnt have been so cheap.