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What the hell is wrong with my Lude?

459 views 1 reply 2 participants last post by  Jump  
#1 ·
Sorry this is so long, but I'm tying to give all details. I have 89 si, I'm stationed overseas, and the car was running fine before I parked it to go back to the states for thirty days. When I return I try to start it and the battery is dead, nothing was left on. It took a while to start it, but it finally did. Let it run for about 2 hours, shut it off dead, jumped it, started right up so drove it for about 1 hour, came back turned it off, it started right up. The next morning dead, jumped it started right up. If i drove car everyday it started but if I missed a day dead. So I assumed battery right, got a new one, Car started fine for about 2 weeks even if it sat 2 or 3 days. A couple days ago wife drove car on Friday, when out Saturday dead. Maybe alternator? I don't have voltmeter, and there's no Autozone down street. but if it was the alternator wouldn't it just drain battery, and not start everyday if I drove it, well until now. Any help would be appreicated. Thanks A stuck GI

An yea, Did I mention the alt. light has never came on
 
#2 ·
Do this test - after recharging the battery (and you really should have a volt meter - they're cheap), disconnect the alternator plug - reconnect in morning and see if it starts right up.
It's possible that the voltage regulator inside the alternator is leaking - there are a set of 8 diodes in there and one bad can lower the output or cause the battery to discharge back through the alt.
You may have to do this every day (disconnect the plug) in order to get past the 2 week period - else - replace the regulator on the alternator - is there a rebuilding shop near you? Are you back in the states? Look through the yellow pages.