Electric Guru's please help
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Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Flagstaff Arizona
Electric Guru's please help
So my '98 is killing a battery in about 1 week. I have a optima yellow top that is about 2 years old. The situation is getting worse now and I'm thinking the battery may be toast as it doesn't seem to be recharging fully. So I did some checking and found Bill's post on checking for load on the battery. I checked the system just like he showed in his write up and my car showed .02 or 20 milliamps. Now the issue seems to be the stereo. I have a fairly extensive system that is completely isolated from the cars electric harness. I checked it separately and I'm seeing .06 to .09. Is that much draw for a radio normal? I checked the amps separately and they do not show a draw when off. The total draw is coming from the radio. I seems that the radio shouldn't require more that the car's computer, right? It's an older unit and only would have to store clock and preset info, nothing major like nav. Would .09 / 90 milliamps be enough to drain the battery at this rate?
Tech Contributor
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From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
If you are sure nothing is drawing more current than what you state, it should last longer than a week therefore your battery is suspect. I would put AMP meter on the battery cable itself and measure. Are you sure your main amp is powered off? Not just the head unit.
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From: Flagstaff Arizona
Thanks for the replies. So checked everything separately. The car checked norm (according to Bill's post). The amps shut off and showed no draw. The Head unit seemed to be the sole draw. It seems to me that the draw from the head unit is excessive. Not sure though. it doesn't seem like the radio should require 2 - 3 times more current for the clock and presets than the computers of the car....?
I was thinking the battery might be shot as well. I'm trying it on an old school manual charger today to see if I can get the charge up and see how long it will hold.
I was thinking the battery might be shot as well. I'm trying it on an old school manual charger today to see if I can get the charge up and see how long it will hold.
Drifting
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From: Slidell La
Thanks for the replies. So checked everything separately. The car checked norm (according to Bill's post). The amps shut off and showed no draw. The Head unit seemed to be the sole draw. It seems to me that the draw from the head unit is excessive. Not sure though. it doesn't seem like the radio should require 2 - 3 times more current for the clock and presets than the computers of the car....?
I was thinking the battery might be shot as well. I'm trying it on an old school manual charger today to see if I can get the charge up and see how long it will hold.
I was thinking the battery might be shot as well. I'm trying it on an old school manual charger today to see if I can get the charge up and see how long it will hold.
BTW I use the red top in mine and just replaced it after 5 yrs of use. I found that mine dropped to 11.1 volts but would still start the car. I could pull the battery and charge it to 12.4 (low) and then it would do ok for a week and drop to 11.1 The 11.1 did start but with winter comming I didn't want to chance it.
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From: Flagstaff Arizona
The radio is completely separate from the car's electronic system. By that I mean it uses the top terminals on the battery and does not do through the stock fuse panel at all. That is why I was listing the two different readings. One for the car .02, and one for the radio system .06 - .09 (this number does not include the car). So, total power consumption could be .08 - .11 for both the car's computers and the stereo. Both measurements were taken at the battery. Does this draw for the radio seem excessive to anyone else? I emailed Alpine but they have not responded and I can not seem to find the specs on their web site.
Last edited by mfriley; Nov 1, 2011 at 10:40 AM.
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From: Dyer, IN
The radio is completely separate from the car's electronic system. By that I mean it uses the top terminals on the battery and does not do through the stock fuse panel at all. That is why I was listing the two different readings. One for the car .02, and one for the radio system .06 - .09 (this number does not include the car). So, total power consumption could be .08 - .11 for both the car's computers and the stereo. Both measurements were taken at the battery. Does this draw for the radio seem excessive to anyone else? I emailed Alpine but they have not responded and I can not seem to find the specs on their web site.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: CA.
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15
97-99's are notorious for having the electric seat adjuster on the driver's side to get stuck permanently on and draw power even with key off---( happened to me as well) I simply set the seat and unplugged the adjuster
Also---these cars seem to draw small power all the time anyway--I suspect the ECM/BCM
My car will go dead in about 3 weeks on non driving regaurdless of battery age--
Also---these cars seem to draw small power all the time anyway--I suspect the ECM/BCM
My car will go dead in about 3 weeks on non driving regaurdless of battery age--
