Figured someone on here might know something.

 

So I've had a 1996 Chevy S10 pickup for about 3 year now and have had no problems until about last year, and I think the problems are related.

 

It started with really slow startups last December when it was cold.

 

I thought it was the fuel filter, so I replaced it.  We got some warmer weather and all was good for about a month. 

 

Then one day I came out and the battery was dead.  I jumped it and all was good, but I still had slow startups, and then a week later, my car battery died again. (I was NOT leaving lights on/stuff plugged in)

 

So I replaced the battery

Fixed.  The car still had slow startups, but never failed.  Weather got warmer all was good.

 

Then came November of this year, and it was cold out again.  Battery dying all the time!  Well, it's a new battery so I figured it was the alternator.

 

Bought a new alternator

 

A month passes.  Now I go outside in this cold weather and the car won't start.  I figured because I hadn't drive in a week or two.  I jump start it, drive it around, although I still notice my voltage is only charging until 10-11 v, which isn't enough.  Usually I'm at about 12 v. 

 

WTF?  I'm going to Sears to have this fixed.  But I'm not about to replace the regulator and call the whole system new.

 

Could I just have a bad cell even though its new?  Possibly a power draw from some unknown source?  I've considered removing all the fuses and letting it sit a week to experiment.  Except my battery dies so often, I can't even set up the experiment.  BAH!!!!

What do you mean by a "slow startup?"  Is the starter turning the engine over but it's just not catching?

Is the starter turning the engine over but it's just not catching?

 

Yes, this exactly.

So you have 2 problems.  Problems getting it started, and then the battery draining/dying after the car is running, even after battery replacement.  Yes? Just trying to determine what all is going on. 

No that's good, I want to make sure everything is clear.  So yes, problems getting it started, and then the battery immediately draining after the car is running.  The battery is almost 1 year old (still under warranty).  But this problem (with  the battery) I'm having seems to worsen in cold weather.  In other words, I don't seem to have this problem when it's warm outside.

My friend in undergrad had a Ford Taurus that we had to get jumped by Case Security every time we wanted to go anywhere.  They could never figure out what the problem was.  I know that doesn't help you at all, but I can commiserate with you!

I had my car broken into one time. They took a cd/radio. When they took it they ripped some wires. I found two exposed wires were touching draining my battery. Once i fixed that. i had no more problems with my battery.

It could be a problem with the fuel pump, or the fuel pressure regulator.  Or it could be the battery connectors could be dirty, or something in the connection to the alternator is F'd up causing it to be producing voltage when it's not supposed to. 

I'll check the battery connectors, but man I'm really hoping it won't end up being my fuel pump.  That will be some $$

 

My friend in undergrad had a Ford Taurus that we had to get jumped by Case Security every time we wanted to go anywhere. 

 

Yeah U of M will do that too.  Except they keep track and will actually make you pay after the 3rd time. 

 

 

I'm not educated enough on car repair to speak to it, but it could be some kind of problem with the connectors to the pump, not necessarily the pump itself.  but the continually dying battery leads me to believe it's some problem with the connectors to that, not necessarily the pump or things related to the pump.

Yeah... i definitely sounds like a wiring issue. You either have bad wires somewhere OR exposed wires that are slowly draining the battery. The cold make batts weak as it is so it could just be exacerbating the situation.

You might want to check your ground too.  That's probably the first thing to check when you have an electrical problem.  You should check where the battery is grounded, and the ground cable itself.  I hope you figure it out.  Car problems are the biggest PITA when you can't figure them out.