2003 Dodge Stratus New Battery Drains Fast, Alternator Tests Fine

by Cecil
(Ohio & IL USA)

I own a used 2003 Dodge Stratus 4 door Sedan v6 Doch engine. I have only had it 5 months and I have had to replace the batter twice. The alternator tests fine. What would be causing the battery to drain so quickly?

Steve Says,
Hi, Cecil. Thanks for using my website!

There are a few things that would be helpful for me to know. Does the battery keep going dead? Is that why you need to replace it? Have you had these batteries tested?

I will do my best to help you out even though I don't have all the information I need. The first thing that we need to think about is the batteries that you have been buying. You need to make sure they are good quality. Sometimes even new batteries are bad before you even install them in your car. If I were you I would have the battery that you have in your car right now "load tested" just to make sure it is good. A battery can be partially bad and still good enough to start your car, so have it checked.

Another thing that you should have checked is your alternator. I know you have already had it tested BUT the type of test that was done is important. You need to have a "load test" done on your alternator too. This is a test that will put a load (like when you are driving your car and have the AC on, radio on and lights on) on your alternator. An alternator can be bad "intermittently" and yet still test good. Sometimes they only show up as bad when you put a load on them.

If you go to start your car in the morning and it is often dead or your car won't start, then you need to think about things that might be being left on in the car. Things like the trunk light, glove box light, overhead cabin light, etc. One easy check that you can do is go out to your car at night and see if you see any light on.

If you have a voltmeter you can do a test that can tell you how much current is being used by your car when you are not using it. I can tell you how to do that if you want to try it.

You also need to make sure that your battery cables are clean and that they are tight as well. If you try to twist them and you can twist them by hand then they are too loose.

Please comment back if you need more help and let me know if you figure this problem out.

I hope this has helped.