Hello All:
We have had some unseasonable cold weather here in Tucson lately. Many days the temperature has dipped below 30 degrees, and I have let me Lancer Shelby sit in the garage for over a month without starting it.
I went to start it last weekend, and of couse, the battery was dead- nothing at all. I did not have my jumper cables, so I called AAA. The AAA Battery service truck arrived, and he first checked the battery with his handheld instrument. The "Battery BAD-REPLACE" screen blinked within a second afetr he cliped on the connections. He offered a replacement battery, but since this was a two year old DieHard with warranty left on the battery, I asked for just a jump. The car started right up, and I let it idle for 20 minutes.
I drove the car for about 12 miles, brought it back to the garage, and it sat until yesterday. I went to start it, and not being surprised, it was dead.
I took the battery over to Sears, and they 'deep cycle charged it', which took almost three hours! After it was charged, I went back with the manager and watched them test the battery, and it tested good. I even asked them to test it again on another tester, just to be sure.
So, I put the battery back in, started the car, and checked the voltage: 13.99V. I turned on the high beams, AC, blower fan to MAX, radio, and hazard flashers, and checked the voltage: 13.83V. The voltmeter onthe dash shows 3/4 scale towards 18V.
So, for now I am going to assume I have a 'parasitic draw' problem.
Does anyone know the spec for key off current in a 1988 Lancer Shelby? I want to start looking into this tonight, beacsue I am going to a car show with this car next month.
Thanks for any advice.
Bill