Wont Start Battery Dead BUT WHY?

[93tunerofdacb7]

ok so i was at the car wash yesterday and i parked and i accidentally left my headlights on.. go to leave and the car wont start (only rapid clicking).. ok so i have a friend try to jump it (no go) so i end up pop starting it to get it home. once im home i try charging the battery and it wont hold a charge ( btw this battery has been acting up) ok so i swap the battery for a brand new one. it starts right up.. let it sit over night and go to start it and it turns over then .. rapid clicking so the battery is dead ( the new one ) so my question is what caused the battery to drain? could my glove box light drain it?

[JoshM]

could my glove box light drain it?

The glove box light is only on when you turn your headlights on. So, no.

Charge up the battery and check to see if the brake lights stay lit without your foot on the pedal. The brake light switch behind the brake pedal is sometimes the issue.

Other than that, I don't know.

[robert@bisimoto]

Maybe its time for a new battery.

[JoshM]

ok so i swap the battery for a brand new one. it starts right up.. let it sit over night and go to start it and it turns over then .. rapid clicking so the battery is dead ( the new one )

Maybe its time for a new battery.

[ikayto]

sounds like alternator isnt keeping the battery charged

it's what happened to me, i tried to turn the car on and all i'd get was rapid clicking.

[93tunerofdacb7]

yea im thinking maybe alternator, my girls on the way to jump it and see what happens.. its odd cuz when i went to start it it turn over a coulpe times real slow.. then clicking.

[ikayto]

if you jump it and it starts, and then dies shortly I'm going to say alternator because that's what I tried to do.

[wed3k]

alternator issues usually give a battery light.

[ibr_adam09]

a new alternator at Advance Auto-parts gives you life time warranty.

[ikayto]

alternator issues usually give a battery light.

i didnt get one and my alternator was the culprit, but good to know for future reference. :

[wed3k]

i didnt get one and my alternator was the culprit, but good to know for future reference. :

yea...OBD1 sucks for diagnostics. it's like, they'll give you a CEL after your car stalls in the middle of traffic or shuts off as you are approaching a light and you suddenyl dont have brakes because lack of vacuum from the engine.

However, it is a lot easier to tune on.

[evil_demon_01]

Check the main ground cable from the battery.
Is there anything new you have added to your car recently?

[dicksonrd]

Clean your battery terminals. Also you can also put a test light between your car negative and battery negative. If your doors are all shut and it lights up then you probably have something drawing power. start pulling fuses beginning with your radio fuse. If the light shuts off you found your problem.

[kouzie]

sounds like alternator...Should test your alternator.
My battery light never came on when my alternator was bad it just click and drain battery.

[93F22A6]

Test the alt. should be at 13.9-14.2 volts. Also rev her up to make sure there is no drop or jump in voltage. It could be a ground, but then it could also be the alt.