Hi, my girlfriend is having some trouble with her '98 SSEi. What happens is she'll let it sit for a day or two, and then try to start it, but all that happens when you turn the ignition is it clicks like the battery is dead/dying. So we jump it and it'* fine until next time.
I'm thinking it might be her alternator not charging the battery to full, anyone?
Also, I'm not used to working on a 3800 series engine, where is the supercharger tensioner pulley? I figure if I have to change the alt (if that'* it) we might as well put new belts on too. But I can't find the tensioner pulley. Is it the one under the DIS module (I'm not familier with the 3800 ignition system, is that what you guys call it?)? I thought that was it, but theres nothing to stick a rachet.

I think it'* more likely the battery losing its charge. Either bad battery or a slow drain somewhere. Alts tend to go around the same time as batteries, though.

I don't know where the SC tensioner on a Series II is.

Yes, the SC tensioner pulley is the one directly below the ignition/coils.
I believe I had to use a torx bit for the pulley on my old 1999 SSEi.

Could it possibly be the ELC compressor kicking on? Not ruling the idea of a bad battery out, especially if being dead after a day or two of sitting. If the Compressor'* running often, it can kill the battery.

Or does the compressor not run if the key'* off in a 96+?

Oh, also, if you find out what is causing the battery to drain let me know. I talked to the guy who bought my old 1999 SSEi (his sister recently bought my old 1998 SSE) and he said both of those cars have batteries going dead over-night. He said it usually was if the cars sat for more than 24 hrs.
I had just put new batteries in both cars within 6 months of selling the cars to them, and when I sold the cars to them all the wiring in the car was untouched. I also had always had a digital voltage guage in the cigarette lighter and never saw voltage levels that were not in the 'comfort' zone. But then again I practically lived in the cars LOL so they never sat idle for more than 12 hrs, except on one occasion where I had to attend a convention for work and took the bus. Car (99 SSEi) sat for 3 days and when I came back there was no problem starting it.

Hm, weird. The battery in her car is a brand new Interstate battery. It still has the plastic on it.
What exactly is the ELC compressor?

ELC is Electronic Level Control. basically its a self adjusting air shock system on the rear axle to automatically level out the car. Theres an ELC relay under the hood in the relay center. I beleive if you pull that relay it will keep the pump from running and see if it cures your problem.

Also, you might want to chec kif you have a light in the glovebox, I had a car do that to me before because the dam switch went bad and the ;ight was on always. Boy was that a pain to find for such a simple thing. Hmm... might want to check the trunk & under hood lights too.

If the battery is loosing power like that definately check the alternator, money is down that it is dead.