So my battery has been draining and i check the fuses and the wires/connections. So im thinkin it might bethe actual alternator, any advice would be appreciated.



Thanks in advance

Draining when? When it's sitting? Running?

well it is winter... even my NEW battery in one of my cars is slow to start

quickest way to test for a draw/drain.



remove the negative terminal on the battery connect a test light between the loose negative terminal and the negative post of the battery, if the light for the test light stays on then you have a draw.



kevin.

take off the negative terminal while running: if it dies your alternator sucks.



or just have it checked at autozone: no cost, and takes 2 seconds. mine **** on me this last weekend. its no fun.

Sorry i really shold have been more specific, when i turn the key over to on, it says i got 12 volts. When i turn the key to start it, it drops right to 8. When i put the test light on the negative and the positive it lights up. i checked the connection to the alternator it lights up. i also checked the engine ignition, the fuse for it it was fine too, so im thinkin my alternator is ****.



thanks

hmmm.... turn key and the engine doesnt turn or turns slow and no start? drops to 8vdc?



well... not to poke ya, but even if the battery was mostly dead and you put a test light on it, it would light up. take it to a NTB or a parts store and have it load tested.



but if that checks good then:

have you checked the connections from battery cable to battery terminal? good, tight and clean?

check the ground wires connection to the frame? rust free and tight?

*this is a good time for a beer break*

check the positive connection to the starter? same?

and heres the big one (careful) if you pull the plugs, and put a socket on the crank pulley (turning clockwise while in neutral) can you turn the engine by hand?



and also pretty important... have you ever bridged a starter with a screwdriver before? if you know how, give that a try... but dont if you havnt done it before. guess I'm not comfortable giving you instructions on that over the net (mainly becuase I'm balls deep in a bottle of crown but there is the fact that it might cause damage to your car... or you... but you'll eventually heal and get over it, its that rotary I'm worried about) but be really stinking careful if you're going to do it man, I usually bridge the starter first then drink, even I'm kinda skerd of lektricity.



good luck man, dont forget the beer though.

wait a tick...



did you try teknics battery draw check?

how bout my alternator check?

what did you find out then?