Thanks for all the info you guys have given me. And thanks for your patience.

I understand now the importance of staying on top of the ignition system. I have seen posts where they include the battery as part of it. If you have a weak battery, to what extent is it detrimental to the engine?

It turns out that there is a battery drain probably due to an aftermarket alarm and radio. After only 5 days the battery was drained to the point of not even turning over. I jumped it and it started right up. I am meeting with furansu (Kris) this week, to look at it and possibly add a toggle switch to each to cut the power to each or maybe even disconnect them if they are the drain source.

Until I get that done, if the battery is still weak, are there any potential problems that can occur? Currently I did not lock the car which keeps the alarm from activating. I'm hoping this may help with the drain.

 

When the car is running, the battery is a load on the alternator in the same way as say, the headlights. In theory, a bad battery can increase the load on the engine, which would make it work harder, but it is not really "bad" for it. In any case, the alternator is what powers everything (including acting as a battery charger).

If it were me, I would remove the alarm. No one pays attention to car alarms anymore. Also look into a float charger. My car is plugged into a Battery Tender when I'm not planning to drive it for a few days.

 

 

Check for phantom currents and either fix or pull the fuse for that circuit until you fix it. I have one in my car in the headlight washer circuit. It's not always the aftermarket stuff. There's a thing for example, where the trunk light stays on all the time.

 

Steve, is using a battery tender normal for the rx, or is it because you have aftermarket items on yours.

The previous owner recommended it if it would sit more than 2 weeks. I didn't even get 5 days.

Hey New Yorker.....where are you in NY? I am originally from Long Island before moving to Colorado.

Loki, I'm not sure how to test for that. Kris might know when I bring it to him. As far as pulling fuses, don't most circuits have more than item attached to it?
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I don't know if it is normal to need one or not. My battery becomes noticeably weaker after about 2 weeks. I have no aftermarket electronics, but I do have the factory alarm and keyless start stuff, which seems to draw some current.

Lead acid batteries do not like to be discharged down to nothing. It dramatically shortens lifespan. Best to keep it fully charged.

 

Take a multimeter and measure the current (amps) across each fuse location in the fuse box. Most should show no current when the car is off. All of them together should add to less than 10 milliamps. If you're running down to nothing in 5 days, you probably have a100-ish milliamp drain somewhere.

 

The longest I have left my 8 is about 2 weeks. The only aftermarket thing that still drains power when the car is off is the Valentine One SAVVY unit I have and it drains pretty slowly. I do make sure to unplug it every time I go on a trip, though.

Batteries don't like being charged quickly (like jump starting). They like slow charging from a trickle charger. I use mine once in a while just as a preventative maintenance.

Aside from the power drain from the alarm, you might also want to check if there is any charge on the top of the battery. Sometimes the dirt and leaked acid can form a layer on the top of the battery. Grab a multimeter, put the positive end on the positive and put the negative around the top of the battery. If there is any voltage, you will want to clean it with a bit of baking soda solution.

 

Hey there, I'm on the Upper West Side, but I grew up in Dix Hills, then Huntington Bay. Though it's been decades since I lived on LI!

Also, FWIW, my 8 routinely sits in a garage – no trickle charger – for literally weeks at a time, yet always fires right up when I turn the key. I believe that's how any modern car with a healthy battery should work.

 

Thanks guys. I grew up in Deer Park.