I have a 95 olds the battery continues to drain to zero. I have replaced the battery 3 timesi, I just got the alternator back with a new regulator, any ideas

Don't assume that a new battery is ok. Personally, I've fitted a new battery to later discover that it was that new battery at fault.

However, it's quite rare ..

If your battery is discharging very quickly irrespective of whether the engine is running or the car is parked - suspect the alternator. Inside the alternator there is a rectifier pack - diodes - if this fails it can allow your battery to discharge very quickly - sometimes within a minute or two, quite literally.

If you can, disconnect the leads from the back of your alternator and charge your battery. Reconnect the battery but not the alternator. If your car starts and continues to start without the battery going flat - your alternator is at fault.

The only other fault that can cause a healthy battery to discharge is a parasitic drain - something is remaining 'live' after the engine is switched off and draining your battery power.

If you drive your car to a spares shop/auto electrician they will be able to tell you within a minute if your alternator is the problem.

If the battery is draining while the engine is running, I would suspect the alternator is not working properly.

You may need to check your regulator,

123

Check the alternator regulator which is a module at the back of the alternator. Maybe your battery is old. If your battery is past 2 years, you have to replace it.

1: Faulty Battery: inspect and fill it with distilled water, if needed: battery may be shorted out

2: Alternator: the voltage regulator inside alternator will drain battery when it quits working: break unit open, and replace the regulator: or replace the entire unit with a rebuilt alternator.

3: Loose alternator belt, which slips and does not allow for enough revolutions to fully charge the battery - especially at night-time, when you are running your headlights and such.

Now, to do a test, which will tell you if the alternator has failed, in 10 minutes:

1) Simply loosen, but Do Not Remove, the battery post clamps / cables, from battery.

2) Start Engine.

3) With engine running, REMOVE both cables from battery posts (engine should continue to run) (if it does not / dies out upon removal of cables, then test no further): ensure to secure the positive post cable - wrap it with a rag, or set it on cardboard or rubber, so it does not ground: then reach inside, and turn ON your headlights: upon doing so, and highlights are ignited, if the engine dies out - if the engine quits running the instant you turn your lights on, with the battery cable disconnected off - that means that the alternator is Not Charging; that it is not producing enough current to run itself / maintain itself running / maintain the engine running; so it does not produce enough electricity to keep your battery fully charged - and, is in fact, draining your battery of any available current which was stored in it.

So, more likely then not, it's the electronic regulator / diode stored inside of the large alternator unit: but, because, your car is a 1990, the brushes on your alternator are shot anyway; so you are better off just replacing the whole unit and belt: and battery if need be.

I hope this helps somewhat: where, with ENGINE RUNNING at normal / higher idle speed, and BATTERY DISCONNECTED, and ACCESSORIES RUNNING, especially headlights and heater - the Engine Must Remain ON / Running - on solely alternator power.

In that: the battery is only required to start the car; stored energy / current for the purpose of starting the car, as supplied by the alternator - and adjusted by the regulator: a faulty regulator will fry your battery, by over-charging / allowing too much electricity to flow.

Good Luck,

Ray

Have your alternator and voltage regulator checked. I once had a galaxie 500 that did the same thing - turned out the alternator was bad and the regulator drained the battery overnight. I changed out both and problem solved - hope you have the same luck!!!

Sounds like the regulator might be going bad in the alternator.

Replace alternator it is defective the internal regulator is defective, should only put out no more then 14.5 volt's, will short out your battery.

turn your vehicle on, disconnect the battery, both terminals(while truck is still on) if it dies on you, then either the alternator is bad or wiring is wrong. if it stays on, then you may have a bad battery or voltage regulator. Check the voltage on the battery before you turn it on(should be from 11.5v-12v), when you turn it on if the alternator if working properly you should have around 13v-14v.