Jeep is dead in the morning

[Eric_Steinmetz]

1051959

Hi - I am new here, but hopefully, your direction will help.



I park my Jeep in my garage. During chilly, wet weather, below 48 degrees and nasty, wet, humid weather, the Cherokee goes dead after 6 - 8 hours. I note this only happens if it is sitting on a concrete slab and there is no air circulation. I surmise there is an electrical connection being completed by moist air.



This happens in concrete parking structures in addition to happening two or three days a week at home in my wood-frame, concrete slab garage. I am positive I did not leave the lights, hood light, glove-box light or another accessory on. I even unplug my cell phone. Still come up dead.



I had to buy a remove car starting, portable battery to carry. When I come out and the Jeep is dead, I jump it off the starter and the car is fine, Alternator charges, battery returns.



I have bought 4 new batteries, different brands. All have the same results - dead car. Jump. Starts and runs fine.



The Jeep has been to the Dealer 4 times. He never can find anything wrong with it.



Any help here? I am out of patience. Thanks.

Eric_Steinemtz@direcway.com[addsig]

 

[dingus]

1051983

sounds like something is grounding out and discharging the battery... try and unplug the battery some night, then hook it back up and try to start it. see what happens.[addsig]

 

[Eric_Steinmetz]

1052133

Been there, done that. Jeep starts fine.



Next suggestion?



I am also corresponding with Jeep - Chrysler on this. They are of little help or symphathy.



Thanks.

[addsig]

 

[dingus]

1052134

next part is the tedius part. you have several options from the way that i see it. my first question is do you have any aftermarket electronic components? cb? cd player? amplifier? scanner? radar detector? alarm?...



next, pick up a digital voltmeter (if you don't have one already, usually about 20 bucks at radio shack or sears or wherever...)



run around your car with the voltmeter checking grounds for current. procedure: locate the ground, touch the positive (red) lead from the voltmeter to it (the ground), then touch the negative lead (black) to the frame. if it reads any current, the item the ground corresponds with is drawing from the battery. start with major items like the fuse panel in your engine bay, and then move to the one in the cabin.



also, while you're at it, you mentioned that some moisture from the air may be touching a connection together. this will only happen if you have bare/exposed/stripped/cracked wires... so check for them while you're at it.



if you can't find anything drawing from the battery with the voltmeter, you could also just yank all the fuses from the fusepanel(s) and plug one back in each night until one triggers something and causes the battery to drain. heh, trying one at a time might be a PITA, so maybe plug 5 in at a time and narrow it down from there. i dunno... something like this could work...



eric... i see you're from middleboro, Mass... my uncle is from attleboro... you know where that is?[addsig]

 

[Eric_Steinmetz]

1053379

Attleboro is 25 miles from here, toward Rhode Island. I am toward Cape Cod.

I have no after market stuff, except a hard wired cell phone; but the problem pre-dates it. I have yanked the phone, and no change. I'll try 5 at a time each weekend, as I can't do it on the worknights. Thanks for the help. I'll advise wherein I see results.[addsig]

 

[MudderChuck]

1053672

Under the drivers side carpet and pad, in many model runs. There is a collection of interior light wires, that become frayed and make a brew of almost shorts and sidged wiring. Stays wet there, from moisture and snow tracked in. Something to look at.[addsig]

 

[Tug-n-pull]

1053675

I surmise there is an electrical connection being completed by moist air.

Been there, done that. Jeep starts fine.

Next suggestion?

I am also corresponding with Jeep - Chrysler on this. They are of little help or symphathy.

I have no after market stuff, except a hard wired cell phone; but the problem pre-dates it. I have yanked the phone, and no change. I'll try 5 at a time each weekend, as I can't do it on the worknights. Thanks for the help. I'll advise wherein I see results.

Dude call a preist! I saw this movie and it aint going to get any better untill you do! You do wright real nice though. Welcome to the board Tug

:-D

PS have you taken your jeep out and let run wild in an open area anytime lately it may be suffering from PJ syndrome Just a thought

edited by: Tug-n-pull, Feb 04, 2003 - 05:26 PM[addsig]