L298N voltage dropping to 0 when a motor connected across it

I am trying to create an RC car project. I currently have an L298N connected to two motors (ignore the extra wires, I was originally hoping to make it four), an R3 clone (not sure of the brand), 4 double A batteries, and a 9V battery in series.


(Motors are currently not connected to the driver)

When no motor connects, the voltage across the outs is about 14V. Connecting a motor on the left side works sometimes and the drop is about 7V. As soon as I connect one on the right while the left is running, neither works and the left stops working for a bit, even after I disconnect the right one again. When I connect the right (whether on its own or when the left is running) the voltage across the OUT terminals drops to 0V. I measured the current when one motor was working to be 2.7A, which I found odd given the L298N's supposed 2A limit.

My motors are RE280 motors, specifically Como Drills 918D1001/1 motors, https://mfacomodrills.com/pdfs/918D%20series.pdf .

Any help is appreciated, I have considered changing motors, changing driver, changing batteries but don't want to do any without knowing what the issue is.

Code here jic:

  #define enA 5
  #define in1 6
  #define in2 7
  #define in3 8
  #define in4 9
  #define enB 10
  
  
  void setup() {
    Serial.begin(9600);
  
    pinMode(enA, OUTPUT);
    pinMode(in1, OUTPUT);
    pinMode(in2, OUTPUT);
    pinMode(in3, OUTPUT);
    pinMode(in4, OUTPUT);
    pinMode(enB, OUTPUT);
  
    digitalWrite(in1, LOW);
    digitalWrite(in2, LOW); 
    digitalWrite(in3, LOW);
    digitalWrite(in4, LOW);
  
  
    analogWrite(enA, 200);
    analogWrite(enB, 200);
  
    delay(100);
  }
  
  void loop() {
  
    digitalWrite(in1, LOW); 
    digitalWrite(in2, HIGH); 
    digitalWrite(in3, LOW); 
    digitalWrite(in4, HIGH); 
  
    delay(10);
  
  }

Basically your battery providing the power is rubbish. Most 9V square batteries are no good for providing power for any length of time.

The project also needs current, Amperes. The 9 volt cell destroys it all.
Reconsider the powering completely.
Get a power source of some 7.5 volts or more. Use buck boosters creating the motor voltage and the controller 5 volt.
Go for a modern MOSFET based motor controller.

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Is taking out the 9V adding more AA batteries a workable solution? Or should I look into another option?

Yes it is.

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Would feeding the driver 12V with 8 AA batteries, and powering the arduino from the driver work? I guess that’s not relevant if I’m replacing it with a different driver though. Any suggested drivers or just find any online?

Yes and no. Know that the driver outputs almost all voltage to the motors. The crappy L298 looses 2 - 4 volt so the motor will received 8 to 10 volt! If You use 10 volt motors it's okey.
Some controllers accept 12 volt to Vin but remember that the 5 volt pin can not really be used to supply any current.
6 x AA would often be a better choice.

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