Battery Drain Problem

fields2033 · August 19, 2011

Hey everybody, I'm new here and I'm needing some expert advice.

I have a 1995 Sierra K1500 5.7 litre and the battery will not hold charge more than 24 hrs.

Battery tested at Advance and O-Reilly and they say it's perfect. Also, alternator is putting out 13.7 V and it is less than two years old.

I did change the ignition switch last fall...I found a used one out of a 1997 Yukon at a junk yard. It was $20 vs. over $300 to have a new installed. I may have messed something up in the process of installing it.

But to the best of my memory, this problem didn't start immediately after the switch was changed...it was random new problem.

I've read some other posts online that say they've had the same problem, but all the sources of each problem was different....

Any suggestions?

Thanks,

Matt

hobitopia · August 19, 2011

I had a similar problem when I first bought my truck. I just put a new battery in it and problem solved. I never had it tested though.

Although I know from experience that a battery can test good and still be bad. Although before you drop 80 on a new battery I would double check the wiring on your ignition and make sure everything is still hooked up right.

blacksierra01 · August 19, 2011

Have you checked for a draw on the battery with the key off?

Steve83 · August 20, 2011

Turn everything in the truck OFF. Disconnect & charge the battery overnight at 2-15A. Clean & connect only the positive terminal. Clean the negative, but use a digital multimeter rated for 15ADC with the black lead going from the battery (-) to the COM socket on the meter. The run the red lead from the high-Amp socket to the negative cable. Set the meter to the high DCA range. It should read less than 0.050A. If it's higher, check for aftermarket wiring, like RKE, alarm, amplifier, CB, inverter, backup camera, backup sensors... Unplug each one, checking the meter each time for the reading to drop. If it's still high, start pulling fuses from the dash ONE at a time, and then replacing each before pulling the next. Move to the underhood fuse block if necessary. If it still won't drop, disconnect all the wires from the alternator.

Post your results.

fields2033 · August 23, 2011

Awesome! Thanks guys!!! I'm going to get on it this week. I've been out of town for two funerals since Friday last week. I really appreciate all the help. I will definitely post my results!!

Matt