I have replaced battery, car runs fine for a couple days then it will not start unless I use a jumper, Everything checks good, car runs great except for this problem

Asked by Shaun Nov 28, 2014 at 08:58 AM about the 1994 Buick Roadmaster Limited Sedan RWD

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

I have been having this problem ONLY AFTER my husband drove my car. I don't know what he does to cars but all of them end up not running after he's in them. 1994 Buick Roadmaster limited sedan. Something keeps draining the battery. I cannot figure it out. I have put 3 new batteries in it and within a couple days... dead. The cables are clean, tight etc. I'm thinking voltage regulator but when I get it checked at the auto parts store they say the alternator is good, will it register good if it has a bad voltage regulator? What else can I check, I love this car.... but I am ready to get rid of it!!

4 Answers

11,065

It's the old parasitic drain. Something in the car is draining the battery when the engine is shut off. There are a lot of articles and videos available online if you search something like "Parasitic battery drain."

2 people found this helpful.
20

Parasitic battery drain measured 20 ma. I am having the same problem as the above question (maintenance and repair) with my 1993 Buick Roadmaster Limited. could this be a voltage regulator problem and or a shorted diode in the alternator

2 people found this helpful.
95

Your husband is turning on the interior lights (accidentally). After your cars are driven just turn headlights and interior lights all OFF. Easy fix!

Yes ,what a relief to find this same thing!!!! battery and alternater and voltage issue same as you wrote about but in a 1992 Limited editioni Amazing car i also love (gets worse in winter so may need to sell it) IF can't fix this ..happened after 2 local shops ,that were not familiar with older cars did 2 things; rewiring for windows to correctly go down and then MISTAKE took to a firestone who put a battery that is way way too low/small-like for a 1.8 liter engine of today- was told most repair and dealers and batteries made 2018 are not correct type these big Buiks need ...need a special kind of battery? a cold crank and higher number something like that....passed inspection 5months ago w/2yr tags all original marron and really just want to resolve this problem listed at op(so can keep as safe reliable car...if can keep this one from leaving me stranded on more than one occasion sorry such long response but additional questions *1) if anyones knows about the battery type and *2) I wonder if similar history of 92 93 and 94 Buicks -IS this just possibly w/make/model specific to what they end up all end up doing as pattern??????anyone else w similar history ------ responses welcomed,feel free to ctc using my work email elisaf1994@gmail.com thanks

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