Q: Car hesitates on startup, battery drain - 2011 Suzuki Kizashi
When I start the car, it begins hesitating. The battery was drained when I checked the other day. I had the battery replaced, but there is obviously something draining its power. I thought maybe there is an issue with the alternator. Do you have any idea what amps are required for the alternator on this model to work properly?
Recommended Services
| Battery will not hold a charge Inspection | $94.99 - $114.99 | Get a Quote |
Check the battery drain with an amp meter, removing fuses one circuit at a time to see which circuit is draining power. Once the bad circuit is isolated, diagnose further with a wiring diagram for the components and wiring for that circuit. If you would like to have this checked, have a certified technician, like one from YourMechanic, diagnose the battery issue and proceed with proper repair.
The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our
terms of service
for more details
Get an instant quote for your car
Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing
What others are asking
Lights come up on the dash all the time
These systems do work in tandem with each other but are two separate systems that would both need to be checked for problems. Contact YourMechanic to test and diagnose both lights coming on (https://www.yourmechanic.com/book/?mktg_jid=321) to see if from a common...
Antifreeze leaking out of radiator
Your car most likely overheated because there was no coolant in the engine. The leak in your radiator will need to be fixed, and then your car should operate normally again. I would ask for help from one of the...
Car squealing when I add water to the radiator
The noise you are hearing is cold water hitting hot metal and turning to steam, like a steam whistle. You may have an intake or head gasket leaking where the head and intake meet in the front, or back, of...
There is a leak around the thermostat housing which resulted in decreasing water in the radiator
Hi there. First thing we need to determine is from where on the housing is the coolant leaking. If it is coming from the thermostat location in the housing, it could simply be a thermostat gasket/O-ring leaking. If the leak...
Acceleration issues and car dying
Hello. There are certain cases where an oxygen sensor can cause performance issues. It would depend on the specific trouble code (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/how-to-read-and-understand-check-engine-light-codes-by-jason-unrau). A few things I would look at are the specified oxygen sensor (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/how-to-read-and-understand-check-engine-light-codes-by-jason-unrau) or circuit, the ignition coil...
Heater gets hot but then blows cold when idling or driving.
This may be due to a faulty heater blower motor (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/heater-blower-motor-replacement) or potentially a bad heater core. As you may know, the heater core is a small radiator like unit that circulates the hot coolant from the engine through the...
My car key won't turn in the ignition
A number of things can make the ignition difficult or impossible to turn. A faulty ignition switch or ignition tumbler may not signal the shifter interlock properly, preventing the ignition from turning. Also, a damaged,loose, or misadjusted shifter mechanism can...
EPS light stays on 2008 Hyundai Elantra
Hi there - your car uses electrically-assisted power steering, which is failing. There is a Recall issued for this problem (15V100000) from Hyundai. Have your vehicle repaired by Hyundai as soon as possible - since this problem will only become...
reasons it would start to be hard to steer?
There are a few different reasons that a power steering system will lose function. The most common causes are that the drive belt is slipping, the pump is going out, there is a leak in the system that is allowing...
Related articles
4 Essential Things to Know About Jumper Cables
You You may think that all jumper cables are the same, but nothing could be further from the truth! Finding those jumper cables in the bargain bin may seem like a great idea at the time, but the shock that...
How Long Does an Alternator Last?
Your alternator is a vital component in your car. It recharges your battery, using engine power, and it also delivers power to your...
How Long Do Battery Terminal Ends Last?
A A properly working charging system is an essential part of keeping a car reliable. Each of the components of a charging system has a specific job that it must perform in order for the vehicle to run properly. In...
Browse other content
Maintenance
Services