battery drained

[cindyh]

85 olds 98
battery drains
car runs only on battery power have to recharge every couple of days
alternator has been tested fine.
mechanic has told me it could be open fuse or bad wiring or bad battery.
help

[jaws38]

I had a problem with my 1990 98 where the air pump would start sputtering every once in a while. This was draining the battery. I just disconnected the thing and have had no bad effects. To repair it, it probably needs a new relay or something.

Mine is located on the left front of the car near the air filter.

[TakeNotes]

I have a 1991 Olds Regency 98, and I had a DEAD BATTERY yesterday. But the battery is only two or three years old. (I was able to jump it though.) I think I found my answer in another post, and it is related to the other response to this link.

The noise I was hearing when I shut my car off is the air compressor for the ELC (electronic level control) for the rear air struts. I didn't even know I HAD rear air struts. Apparently, I have developed a small leak in the air hose system to these rear struts, and as AIR LEAKS OUT, it tells my compressor to TURN ON. It does this even when the car is PARKED unattended. (Doing it all night long, of course.)

I have heard this motor thing come on before, but it never drained my battery (until now). I suppose my air leaks have gotten worse. One of the threads here suggested I simply UNPLUG the compressor for now, as a temporary fix. But I will probably need to get my rear shocks looked at. I have noticed that the rear-end of my car has been sort of LOW lately, as if I was hauling bricks, or something.

I wonder what happens if we park on a HILL?

Anyway, I hope this information is helpful.

[tri-power]

If your car is running off the battery then you have a charging problem. Despite wht you were told, It sounds like the alternator output is too low to run the vehicle. The battery is only used to start the vehicle, so if you are draining the vehicle while driving, have the alternator tested again. You might try taking it to another place as a second opinion. If the car runs fine but dies off when not running, then you may either have a bad diode in the alternator or a parasitic drain in the wiring.


In response to the airpump problem, remember if you have airride and disable the pump, your suspension will no longer be of use because the air is not being supplied to the suspension. Thats assuming you have a hose leak. Your alternative is to either repair the lines or struts if the bladders are bad, which is usually expensive, or go to normal suspension, which I don't remember if there needs to be a conversion for the parts or if they are direct bolt on.

[BNaylor]

Sorry but due to the age of the thread and poll both have been closed.