Two batteries in three months

[John Agudelo]

I have an 03 Lincoln LS v8 with 145k that I got November 2016. I had to replace the battery in December and I had to replace it again March 2017 and now the new battery needs to be jumped every morning. There is a draw somewhere and I'm trying to diagnose it. Once I jump the battery, the dash says to Apply Park Brake and Service Park Brake but then it goes away and never comes back until I jump it again. But sometimes, randomly, the airbag light comes on (the little orange guy getting hit with the airbag). And it doesnt turn off unless I turn off the car. It does it when I get off the seat too. The battery indicator isnt on and I had my alternator tested at autozone. They told me it was fine but you know how they are. I'm getting a battery charger today but I just need assistance on whether or not I should get the wires changed or if I actually need to bring it somewhere and pay $300+ to have them try and figure it out. Also, I couldnt drive it from Saturday-Tuesday because I got jammed up and it rained for two days straight.

 

[joegr]

What "wires" are you thinking about changing?
Did you do any testing for parasitic drain?
Are you putting in the correct battery for this car?
Have you measured voltage while the engine is running?

At this point (based on what you have and haven't said), I assume that you will need to get someone to diagnose it.

 

[John Agudelo]

The postive and negative wires that connect to the battery. And I put in the correct battery. But as far as testing goes, autozone did all of that

 

[joegr]

If you don't have the tools (multi-meter at the least) and some basic electrical knowledge, then it is best to farm this one out. Unfortunately, parasitic drains can be difficult (expensive) to find and resolve.

 

[John Agudelo]

Yeah man I'm only 18 lol. Just trying to get one more year out of this bad Larry. Fixing it up as much as I can

 

[John Agudelo]

I just had autozone test it once again and the battery and alternator are fine so there's definitely a draw somewhere. I have to turn the car off and look everywhere I can

 

[1LoudLS]

looking, wont help much. you need to have equipment and do some testing.

 

[RigsLS]

... Just trying to get one more year out of this bad Larry.

Post of the month +1

 

[RigsLS]

looking, wont help much. you need to have equipment and do some testing.

Kinda like, have weed but no blunts, not gonna get high today? Rats!

 

[1LoudLS]

ham, no burger.

cool aid, no sugar.

 

[MysticMac]

You can get a capable multi meter for 25 bucks (a 12 case of beer in canada) and get a buddy to hold the multi meter on positive and negative while you pop each fuse out one by one to see whats causing a drain.

 

[joegr]

...hold the multi meter on positive and negative ...

Um no. That's not how to do it.

 

[MysticMac]

Um no. That's not how to do it.

dont you put the leads on the neg and pos? only had to do it once when i diagnosed my faulty door lock assembly. Its been a while

 

[MysticMac]

you remove the positive terminal ? i should know this

 

[joegr]

Details on parasitic drain testing have been posted to this site several times, the most recent being just a week or so ago.
To measure current, disconnect the negative battery cable. Put the positive current meter probe on the negative battery terminal, and put the negative probe on the ground cable.
Of course, there's far more to it because on the car sleeping and not sleeping. See the other posts about it.