any ideas why my car keeps drying out batteries? I was having charging issues a few weeks back where the battery kept drying out. I replaced the battery cuz it was old anyway & today the new 1 is dry. It's only at the most 3 weeks old so I'm thinking it's the car.

It is possible that the charging system is over charging the battery, hence boiling out the electrolite. Once the electrolite is gone the battery is doomed. Just a thought!

Tom

Yes sir, overcharging will do it:ermm:

If it has gone dry so quickly, I would suggest that you run the risk of having a battery explosion if the fault continues.

It is imperitive that you determine what the charging voltage is when you instal a fresh battery.

Nominally 13.8V - 14V.

Any more and you may re-enact the "China Syndrome":nervous:

It is a good idea to have a reputable supplier instal the new battery.

They will usually do a check of your system then for voltage and regulation of charge.

Only a couple of seconds work but well worth the effort.

thats what i thought. what would cause it? i havent been able to determine if my alternator is interally or externally regulated. im thinking it is externally & the regulator isnt working. i was thinking it was an internally regulated alternator but they left the old regulator there. theres also a very low rated inline fuse that looks spliced into a wire off the external.

thanks for the help

You haven't said what year your car is but the earlier cars, 240z, 260z, early 280z would be externally regulated unless they've been converted. And, I might be wrong but I believe that only the 1978 280z was internally regulated from the factory.

Oh sorry. It's a 73 with a L28 w/ electronic ignition swap. I haven't seen a comparison of internally & extrernally regulated alternators but, something about the back of the 1 on there has me thinkin it's internally regulated. Theres so much half-assed wiring that I'm not sure what's goin on tho

Well, on the wheel well, stock there'd be a voltage regulator, by the little underhood light. If it's connected, then it's externally regulated...sounds like it 'isn't' being regulated....