1st Occurence - Driving in the rain with my head lights and windshield wipers on I get a the battery warning light come up in the OK window. It then goes away and stays away for a couple weeks.

2nd Occurrence - Driving in the rain in a traffic jam the battery light comes on again, dash lights dim and windshield wipers slow down.

Repair - I went the next day and had a new battery installed and they said the battery was bad but the alternator was ok.

3rd Occurrence - At Costco to get new tires and the shop guy says my car won't start. We push start it and it runs to get into the stall. Then we push start it and it runs to get home. Push start to get to the shop. Battery light was on again and relays going nuts somewhere back around the rear seat.

Repair - Starter was previously on the way out so I had that replaced. The techs drove the car and said the Alternator was spiking to 18.5 volts. Had the Alternator replaced.

4th Occurrence - drove fine for about a week. Yesterday on another rainy day I noticed the windshield wipers slowing yesterday and after my last job of the day I went to start the car and it only had enough juice to try to push the starter but not turn it over. I push started it and drove home and parked it in the garage. Tried to start it this morning and it got closer to truning over but didn't have enough juice. I then push started it and drove it to the shop which is only 5 miles away. They bring it in to the shop and proceed to start it 15 times without issue. I find it strange that it wouldn't start for me and 5 mile trip would generate enough power to start it 15 times.

Please Help - They are not sure what the problem is nor am I. Certainly feels like there is a connection between my issues and the rain but who knows. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Are you sure they cleaned the battery posts and contacts?
Have you looked at the cables themselves?

Battery cable bolts may be bad/loose.

Really odd that with a new battery at alternator you stil have these problems.

 

Bad electrical component that is draing too much current like the motor that moves the wiper arms.

Did the shop do any kind of current draw testing?

When they tested it and it started repeatedly, did they have the same electrical components running that you had when it happened (lights, wipers, etc)?

Has it happened when it wasn't raining? At night?

 

My first guess would have been the alternator until I read that he changed it.

 

I cleaned the posts and the cable connections. Where would you think water could be affecting things?

 

I am not sure of which tests they have done. They have left it running with the wipers and headlights on. They also sprayed it down with a hose.

It has happened during the day but it has always corresponded with rain, windshield wipers and headlights.

 

Water really should not affect anything unless it's *directly* into the alternator.

 

Although it's hard to guess at how water can be causing this. The only thing I can think of is water getting into the intake plenum at the base of the windshield and causing some kind of short with the wiper motor or ecu. But this is really grasping at straws and I wouldn't bet on it.

 

A bad ignition switch maybe?

 

"Battery light was on again and relays going nuts somewhere back around the rear seat."

I relocated my battery and didn't use a great ground the first time. This happened with the relay clicking.

If your battery is still in the normal location, remove it and the plastic housing with torx. The ground should be down there. Maybe use some emery paper on it and all the terminals?

just a guess. goodluck.