Battery Drain
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 666
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From: Richmond TX
Battery Drain
OK, guys...got an 85 that eats batteries in 3 days...put an amp meter in series with the neg. post and the neg. cable...shows 1 amp, on the nose...pulled every fuse, one at a time, with no change....any ideas what to look at next, and is 1 amp too much?? TIA
Cheers,
Michael
Cheers,
Michael
Pro
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 678
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From: Oslo, Norway
Hi.I have an 85 and had the same problem with battery draining. Everything seemed ok but the battery gor drained. Also a new battery. The alternator was ok and I discovered that it was the curtesey light module taped on the cables just behing the dash on the passenger side. To check this take the fuse out when you stop the car and see if the battery become drained. If not the module seems ok and you have to search other places
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
GM says leakage current must not exceed 50 milliamps. My 87 draws 27 ma. and doesn't run the battery down. 1 amp is EXCESSIVE. First, at night, check for underhood lights, vanity mirror lights, door map lights, console light. Do you have a radar detector, aftermarket alarm or radio or audio amplifier? Check em.
Behind your battery is a bolt (jump start terminal) with 8 red wires. remove the nut and one at a time, remove the wires (they all have fusible links) and watch your ammeter. Several CFers had stuck seat adjust switches keeping the seat motor on. Feel your seat motors for warmth.
Behind your battery is a bolt (jump start terminal) with 8 red wires. remove the nut and one at a time, remove the wires (they all have fusible links) and watch your ammeter. Several CFers had stuck seat adjust switches keeping the seat motor on. Feel your seat motors for warmth.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 666
Likes: 0
From: Richmond TX
I'll try the alternator lead first...the alternator itself is putting out 14.2, even at idle, so I don't think it's going south...checked all the lights, nothing on, and the underhood lights are disconnected...already replaced the timer module, with a relay. When I open a door, and the interior lights come on, the draw jumps to almost 4 amps, and when I shut the door, it drops back to 1, so I would assume they are working correctly. I'm at a loss after that..
