Why does my battery keep draining?
Thread Starter
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 82
Likes: 3
From: Phoenix
Why does my battery keep draining?
Lately I can't leave my car for more than a day or two without the battery completely draining. I recently had to rebuild the ignition switch to fix other issues I was having, and since then I have the ghost key and my battery keeps dying. It's really turning into a huge pain in the backside. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Virginia Bech VA
I had a problem with my battery draining fast. I messed with fuses and didnt figure it out so I took the vette to an auto electric shop. They found that my Power Seat had a short and was draining my battery. No problems at all since getting that fixed.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 82
Likes: 3
From: Phoenix
I will try to get a meter to the car hopefully this weekend. Eventually we'll get this figured this out. Thanks to all.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 156
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From: Long Sault Ontario
Disconnect one side of your battery, and install a test light to that cable, then to the battery. The light should come on, indicating a draw. Now start pulling fuses one at a time, till the light goes out. That will be your draw. Works on oldschool stuff, should work on new stuff.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Disconnect one side of your battery, and install a test light to that cable, then to the battery. The light should come on, indicating a draw. Now start pulling fuses one at a time, till the light goes out. That will be your draw. Works on oldschool stuff, should work on new stuff.
The BCM, PCM, draw KEEP ALIVE current all the time. You have to use a DC Amp Meter to trouble shoot this issue. PERIOD!
There are several COMMON things that cause excessive current draw
-Seat multifunction switch & Lumbar Switch
- Bose Amp relay stuck on
- Alternator didoes bad and drawing current
- Headlight control module bad
- Interior light on (check in the dark)
- Added aftermarket accessory not shutting off
BC
Tech Contributor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 10,924
Likes: 78
From: Forney Texas
The "standard" is 2.11v per cell, so a battery should read 12.66v. That's not to say it won't hold a higher charge for a period of time though. Once settled, they should float at that voltage though. I wouldn't call a battery sitting below that voltage bad either.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 82
Likes: 3
From: Phoenix
TEST LIGHT WILL NOT WORK on any of the newer cars t test for current draw! There is a CONSTANT 25ma designed draw ALL the time! The light will NEVER go out!
The BCM, PCM, draw KEEP ALIVE current all the time. You have to use a DC Amp Meter to trouble shoot this issue. PERIOD!
There are several COMMON things that cause excessive current draw
-Seat multifunction switch & Lumbar Switch
- Bose Amp relay stuck on
- Alternator didoes bad and drawing current
- Headlight control module bad
- Interior light on (check in the dark)
- Added aftermarket accessory not shutting off
BC
The BCM, PCM, draw KEEP ALIVE current all the time. You have to use a DC Amp Meter to trouble shoot this issue. PERIOD!
There are several COMMON things that cause excessive current draw
-Seat multifunction switch & Lumbar Switch
- Bose Amp relay stuck on
- Alternator didoes bad and drawing current
- Headlight control module bad
- Interior light on (check in the dark)
- Added aftermarket accessory not shutting off
BC
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