Electrical Problem?

[voorheisb]

I have a 2003 Chevy Silverado 1500 Z71. I believe it is a 5.3L. I use another car since I commute a good distance so the truck only has around 40K miles.

 

I start it here and there so that the battery didn't die. When I did I saw messages on the dash like, 'Battery Not Charging', and 'Service Airbag'. Also, all dash lights would go out about 20 seconds or so after I started it. The only way I could get them to turn back on was to turn the truck off and restart it. A few weeks ago it wouldn't even turn over. I just assumed that the battery finally kicked since it is now almost 7 years old. I put a new battery in it and it started right up but I still had the same issues with the above messages and lights so I quickly shut it off. I should mention that the headlights appeared to be working fine. Here is the kicker. I went outside the very next day and the brand new battery was completely dead. Something is obviously draining the battery but I know for sure that I didn't leave anything on.

 

I'm wondering if since I don't use it that often if a mouse may have made a home under the hood and chewed some wires which is causing all of these weird issues or if there is something that I'm not considering (i.e. alternator, etc.) I don't know a lot about this so I'm looking for help from you guys.

 

Thanks in advance,

Brian

[txab]

Sometimes you can have an alternator problem that will cause your battery to drain when shut off. You might get your battery fully charged and start it up and take a reading at the batt. terminals to see if the alt. is charging at all. Also you could have it checked at a parts store.

 

You really need to drive the truck a little instead of just starting it, letting it run for a few minutes and then shutting it down. Consider buying and installing a good quality trickle charger and you'll have no worries of a dead battery. Battery will last longer too

[kundog]

Look around the engine compartment for evidence that a critter could be present, I agree with tx, take it for a 10-15 minute drive (get all the oils moving and warmed up). It is much better than just letting it idle for a time. As far as any other ideas as to what could be going on, maybe a good read in the service manual or have someone hook up their scanner to it and have a look on the inside.