Electrical Problem- Battery keeps draining after one or two days.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,183
Likes: 2
From: Des Moines Iowa
Re: Electrical Problem- Battery keeps draining after one or two days. (JRChurch)
Not really great on electrical issues either, but if I remember correctly, your diagnosis goes something like this.
Unhook batter ground, and hook up volt meter between negative post and ground on wire, if you have a short, leakage problem, you should be now getting a read of somewhere around 12 volts on the volt meter. Now, start pulling fuses, one at a time, then re-installing and noting whether or not the volt meter changes to zero, or near zero. When you pull a fuse and it makes the meter reading drop back to zero, then you've found the circuit that is causing the problem. Then it's a case of runnig down each wire in the circuit to see where the problem is, but not exactly sure how this is done.......anyone else????
ps any forum member, please correct me if I've misstated the procedure above, as I said, I'm no expert on these issues.
Unhook batter ground, and hook up volt meter between negative post and ground on wire, if you have a short, leakage problem, you should be now getting a read of somewhere around 12 volts on the volt meter. Now, start pulling fuses, one at a time, then re-installing and noting whether or not the volt meter changes to zero, or near zero. When you pull a fuse and it makes the meter reading drop back to zero, then you've found the circuit that is causing the problem. Then it's a case of runnig down each wire in the circuit to see where the problem is, but not exactly sure how this is done.......anyone else????
ps any forum member, please correct me if I've misstated the procedure above, as I said, I'm no expert on these issues.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 1,355
Likes: 0
From: Germantown Maryland
Re: Electrical Problem- Battery keeps draining after one or two days. (JRChurch)
You want to hook a meter inline with the battery using the CURRENT settings (highest scale to start). Becarfull that you don't exceed the meters highest current scale. Basically something is draining current from your battery. Then as previously stated eliminate one area at a time by pulling fuses and disconnecting things while looking at the current meter. Is the radio on??? Most common problem... Don't assume because the alternator was tested , that it is not draining your battery. There is a reverse flow of current in the diodes of most alternators. If this value gets to large a battery won't last long. Simply pull the connector while looking at the current meter to see if thats the problem.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 495
Likes: 0
From: ma
Re: Electrical Problem- Battery keeps draining after one or two days. (JRChurch)
Don"t forget to tape the door switch shut when doing this unless you can get the fuses with it shut,The clock and radio will draw 50-500 milli amps depending on the make :seeya
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 4,660
Likes: 3
From: South Central Louisiana
St. Jude Contributor
Re: Electrical Problem- Battery keeps draining after one or two days. (Steve Grodin)
Good advice Steve. JR, if it is in the interior/door light circuit, I have had 2 very wierd things cause this:
1. A light bulb thats filament was shouted to the base, causing a drain whether the light was on or not.
2. The delay box for the courtesy lamp that goes off AFTER you shut the doors.
1. A light bulb thats filament was shouted to the base, causing a drain whether the light was on or not.
2. The delay box for the courtesy lamp that goes off AFTER you shut the doors.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 251
Likes: 0
From: Toronto Ontario
Re: Electrical Problem- Battery keeps draining after one or two days. (JRChurch)
Someone mentioned it above. I had the exact same problem and I found out it was the center storage compartment light still running even though I thought it was shut. Make sure you here the 'click' of the door shutting or, just to test the theory, take the bulb out and see if you problem goes away.
The simplest solution is usually the correct answer, so don't go looking for complex problems. Start with the small stuff and work up.
Good luck.
The simplest solution is usually the correct answer, so don't go looking for complex problems. Start with the small stuff and work up.
Good luck.
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