Battery Troubles

Having some battery woes as the title suggests. I let the jeep sit for a week and it wouldn't start. So I jumped it and let the jeep run for awhile. After letting it run for 20 minutes I killed it and tried to restart it and it wouldn't-just the all too familiar clicking sound of a dead battery.

I've got a fairly new Optima red top, but I figured it was just a fluke and drained for whatever reason. Took the battery to Autozone where they recharged it in about an hour. Went home put the battery in and drove the jeep back to Autozone to have them test the alternator. They said the alternator was good so now I'm a bit perplexed.

Now the battery is drained yet again and showing the same symptoms. I made sure to drive the jeep daily for about 3-4 days and now it won't start again due to the battery draining and apparently not charging. The battery is fairly new, the alternator tested good, and the starter is brand new. I went through all the wiring and nothing is loose or shorted out. Any ideas on where this electrical gremlin might be?

 

Something is causeing a draw witch drained your battery down.When they tested your battery did they do a load test?These load draws can cause a new battery to go bad.If it was mine I would charge the battery back up.Take it off the charger let it set overnight then have it load tested.As far as the electrical draw goes install a battery shut off switch.

 

Sounds like a good idea to me. If the battery is still under warranty, exchange it regardless...You may have 1 or more bad cells in the battery, I've dealt with a bad battery same day I bought it.

Other than that definitly check if something is draining power when it's off.

 

See if the jeep will run with the battery disconnected. Super simple way to check alternator output without a meter.

 

id check for a parasitic draw. as stated by tumbleweed, this would tell you if you have an electrical issue draining your battery. if it checks good, make sure autozone load tests the battery. it only take a few seconds to find out

 

I appreciate all the input. I figured it out as soon as I studied the battery terminals. I'm afraid to admit it but I left my tach hooked directly to the positive terminal when I was testing it and it was causing a slow drain on the battery. Doh!

 

at least the fix was simple.

 

Just my $.02

To check alt. I would not suggest pulling the bat. cable because a charging bat. puts off gas that is flammable. By pulling the cable it can make a spark and ignite the gas.
The easy way to ck if it is charging is with a volt meeter 13.6-14.6 v is good.

 

go to radio shack, buy a set of extra test leads for your meter and a cigarette lighter plug and make one of these. easy way to watch your charging system voltage while driving or testing.

 

glad you found your problem,easy way to check a delco alt is touch something steel to rear bearing if it acts like there is a magnet in there its working <engine running>

 

I had the same problem, except the PO decided to hook all of the accesories up to the positive side of the volt gauge which was also directly connected to the battery. Some people's kids..........