Something is draining the battery

It all started 3 weeks ago when the 1993 Ford Aerostar (3.0 L) didn't want to start. There was no attempt even to start. After investigating it, I realized the starter relay was loose therefore it wasn't grounding properly. Moving the wires that connected it to the battery and disconnecting it to reconnect it allowed the van to start without problems.

Then, my radio (or face plate) was stolen out of the van. There was a light that continually blinked which I thought to be the cause of the battery draining. But the starter relay still was loose so we tightened it. Unfortunately the battery still continued to die.

We had the battery bench tested (no problems). Then we had the charging system tested on the van (no problems). We installed a new radio so the light wouldn't be the cause of the draining. We tried unplugging the battery when we go in the house but that doesn't change the effect.

As long as we use the van every hour or so, the battery remains charged and allows it to start. As long as it's started, the charging system kicks in and keeps it running for hours. But if we are in the house or work for a couple of hours, the battery dies. It doesn't take much to start it. We keep another spare battery in back that we just touch the jumper cables to and it kicks right over. But it's a real pain to have to do several times per day.

Something is draining the battery. I don't know if it's a ground somewhere or the starter relay itself or what could cause this.... I've ruled out it being within the battery cells though since we disconnect the battery and it has the same results.

I use me van for work... driving around delivering newspapers for 2 to 3 hours per night. I can't have this van go down or be in the shop for any real length of time. I'm not very experienced when it comes to electrical but I also can't afford a lot of pricey labor to find the problem working for the Free Press. Any help you could give to me really would be appreciated.... Thanks in advance!

Karen

still can't figure it out. Went out and checked the voltage regulator. It was loose. Thought that was the problem so I tightened that up. Probelm still there. Now it's worse though. It needs a jump EVERY time I want to start it. Still starts just by touching another battery though, but not by using only my brother's battery anymore. It needs another vehicle. Today, I heard the battery in my van bubbling. I opened the top to see inside the cells and the acid level was fine (except with a little corrosion in two of them). I'm thinking it could be the starter or even that Murray's was wrong when it did my original test. Perhaps, my battery is the problem all the way. I'm going to try buying the battery this weekend or possibly the starter. I just hate buying things blindly. I would appreciate anyone who has had these similar experiences to let me know their input. You might be surprised at what information helps. Any info on the subject would be appreciated.... Thanks.
Karen

We just got back from Murray's Auto again. They said that the battery in our van was bad. They tested it on the car and had it tested under load (lights, radio, heat, wipers, & hazards). After they had me turn it off, they said it was as if something were still on.

The machine kept repeating to turn off the headlights (example). We turned them on and off several times. Then he had us shut it off and it wouldn't start again ... not until it was jumped at least. So we took it in the store and had it tested on the machine inside (yep...dead battery). So we brought the other battery inside....dead too. (And I KNOW that one worked! I used it to jump ours several times!) I need to buy another battery for our van on Thursday, I guess. I need it for our job. I'm having to jump it now EVERY time that I want to start it. But that's $56.00 and I'm afraid that it'll be taken out just like these two were. But I guess if that happens, at least there's a 25 month warranty on it. I'm just going nuts trying to figure it out.

But I thought I should keep this updated .... I'll let you know the outcome after I get another battery in here. Maybe that was the only problem ... but it still seems like something was draining it ... maybe it was just the cold... we'll see..........

Hi,

The secret is when you said that if you disconnect the battery it still goes dead. No connection - no load - nothing to drain it. Must be the battery. Well almost :)
I could have been a poor charging system but you said you checked it and it was ok.

As for the other battery going dead, you have been using it to start your car and I didn't read where you left it connected so it could charge back up. So, dead is to be expected. Connect it when your car is running to charge it back up. It will take a long time so you might find buying an overnight battery charger more convienant. They don't cost a lot.

Let us know.

well this sounds like the problem i hadmy my pick up turns out i have an bad alternator it could charge when running but when the truck was off the alternator would drain back off the battery took the truck to work and had my battery tested in our tireshop and the machince kept saying turn headlights off and they were off