Battery Drain ?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 2,473
Likes: 10
From: New Paltz, New York USA
Battery Drain ?
My two year old Optima battery was stone dead. Could someone tell me how to test for a drain on the battery. I believe that you are supposed to put a meter between the battery and the meter leads, but I'm not sure how to hook it up.
I had the battery down the basement during the winter so the cold weather did not hurt it and it was fully charged when I put it away. I did the same thing last year and it was fine when I started up last year. Thanks for any help.
I had the battery down the basement during the winter so the cold weather did not hurt it and it was fully charged when I put it away. I did the same thing last year and it was fine when I started up last year. Thanks for any help.
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 36
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From: belleville wi
Re: Battery Drain ? (Richard Cooper)
if you have a clamp on amp meter clamp it on the pos cable and read the meter if everything is off and you have a reading something is on, go to the fuse panel and start pulling fuses until you get no reading on the meter. (pull a fuse if that doesn't do it then replace it and move on to the next fuse.) that should tell you what circuit you have to look at.
tom
tom
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,187
Likes: 4,008
From: Connecticut, USA
Re: Battery Drain ? (Richard Cooper)
you can use a 12 v test light or volt meter. Put in-line between the battery cable and the battery terminal. with power off yuo should not see the light come on or have voltage. If you do ,then as stated, pull one fuse out at a time until the light goes out. You'll then need a schematic of your car to see whats on the circuit you pulled the fuse on and then start cancelling items off the list. Now if you have any aftermarket items like an alarm or some of the power assy then they might have a draw on the battery with the ignition off.
Gary
Gary
Drifting
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 1,468
Likes: 1
From: Kirkland WA
Re: Battery Drain ? (gtr1999)
Richard
I feel like an expert in this subject. Read my other post re: Electrial Draw.
Basically, remove the neg. battery cable and put a test light between the cable and the post. Close the door or be sure and tape down the door ajar and courtesy lamp pins. If the light is on you have a draw on your system.
Then the fun starts. Fuse by fuse, pull each one out until the light goes off. Note that the fuse for the clock is supposed to have power, so pull that one first. If the light goes off at that point you probably don't have a draw.
If, after the fuses are out the light is still on, pull all the power to the following (in order of difficulty).
1. Alarm relay
2. Alternator
3. Starter
At some point you're going to pull a fuse/wire and the light will go off. Then you'll at least know where your problem is.
I just solved my problem today after a couple hours of diagnosing and help from the guys on the fourm. Turns out the voltage regulator wires on my alternator were connected wrong. Lots and lots of time, very simple fix.
Good luck! :smash:
I feel like an expert in this subject. Read my other post re: Electrial Draw.
Basically, remove the neg. battery cable and put a test light between the cable and the post. Close the door or be sure and tape down the door ajar and courtesy lamp pins. If the light is on you have a draw on your system.
Then the fun starts. Fuse by fuse, pull each one out until the light goes off. Note that the fuse for the clock is supposed to have power, so pull that one first. If the light goes off at that point you probably don't have a draw.
If, after the fuses are out the light is still on, pull all the power to the following (in order of difficulty).
1. Alarm relay
2. Alternator
3. Starter
At some point you're going to pull a fuse/wire and the light will go off. Then you'll at least know where your problem is.
I just solved my problem today after a couple hours of diagnosing and help from the guys on the fourm. Turns out the voltage regulator wires on my alternator were connected wrong. Lots and lots of time, very simple fix.
Good luck! :smash:
