I NEED YOUR INPUT/HELP! PLEASE, Can an alternator drain a battery with car off? Options

[Random_Stranger]

Ok so I have this issue where my car battery is suddenly being drained by something. I was just wondering what first things to look at. Also what I find strange is that it didn't want to start last night (I witnessed a hit and run across the street, thought the guy was gonna stop but when he took off, I was going to jump in my car and get his license plate number, but my car didn't start). So I busted out the voltmeter and seen it was like at 9.38v. I set my alarm and went inside and later that night, I hear my alarm chirping in a way I never heard before. Then it got louder, and louder and then just went off making it's normal sound if someone attempted to break in. So I go out there and disarm it. Noticed my lights were dim and checked the reading again. It was 7.38v. I left the voltmeter connected to it and sat in the car wondering what it could be. I went back and noticed it climbed up a bit to 7.44v. I let it sit there and watched and it climbed up to 7.48v before I just disconnected it.

Is that normal for a voltmeter to do that? You think it might be my car alarm? I have an optima battery which is like 3 years old. Not sure what the life expectancy is on those or if maybe it is in fact something draining power.

This post has been edited by Random_Stranger: Jan 9, 2012 - 4:39 PM

[Neon90424]

All my batteries keep dieing at my house lol...So I have bought about 5 batteries this year so It kinda seems like it...maybe it does take 2-3 years...

batteries last longer if you keep em inside the car...thats the reason those mercedes batteries last so long the ones under the seat...

[Random_Stranger]

All my batteries keep dieing at my house lol...So I have bought about 5 batteries this year so It kinda seems like it...maybe it does take 2-3 years...

batteries last longer if you keep em inside the car...thats the reason those mercedes batteries last so long the ones under the seat...

Yeah I know, I was told Optima batteries could only benefit from being used daily, which I do use it like that. But something is seriously draining my battery. I did some research and most people have their optima batteries for 5-8 years (and at this reported time, still going strong), even in multiple vehicles. I was hoping maybe it's just the battery and they would warranty it before it runs out, but they keep insisting on just recharging it.


I am convinced now something is draining it, as it was too low to start and the next day lost a whole 2.xx volts. I was just wondering what it could possibly be in the first obvious things to check, such as car alarm and how to check if it is in fact the car alarm that is drawing current.