tested car, pulled all fuses, STILL have current drain
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 112
Likes: 1
From: Dallas Texas
tested car, pulled all fuses, STILL have current drain
I hooked up the multitester between the positive cable and the post, set it to 10, it pegged, set it to 50 and it stayed at "5", I pulled each underhood fuse individually, no change, I got in, shut the door and pulled each fuse and breaker in the footwell, no change. Anyone have any ideas? Could it be the battery cable or the starter leaking to ground? The only electrical oddity I've ever noticed on this car is the security light sometimes stays on when driving. When it won't start it takes a while after I hook up the jumper cables before it builds up enough juice to start, but you can run it for a minute or two and shut it down, it'll fire right back up. There was a minor amount of crud on the terminals, under them, the battery shelf looks brand new, and the old battery was a replacement. I really thought the test would show something.
Jay :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:
Jay :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:
Drifting
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 1,250
Likes: 1
From: Greensboro NC
Re: tested car, pulled all fuses, STILL have current drain (lucaslawfirm)
DO you have a CD changer?? I once had a 12 disc changer that went bad and came on intermittently and draine dthe batt over two to four days. If you have one, onhook and see if it makes a diff.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 112
Likes: 1
From: Dallas Texas
Re: tested car, pulled all fuses, STILL have current drain (lucaslawfirm)
Yes, the factory one, I'll try that, I seem to recall the car did this once before, anyone else have any ideas?
Jay :leaving:
Jay :leaving:
Drifting
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 1,250
Likes: 1
From: Greensboro NC
Re: tested car, pulled all fuses, STILL have current drain (lucaslawfirm)
They are hooked into the serial data line going thru the vehicle and everytime my player would wake up and do stuff, it would wake the entire data line and all components up. Had the car towed to the dealer three times. They exchanged everything until I cought the palyer doing its thing one night walking into the garage. it would just start initializing on a whim and that woke the entire network up which drained the batt in about three to four days. Got a new CD player form GM afterwards. :yesnod:
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 4,981
Likes: 497
From: Hilton NY
Re: tested car, pulled all fuses, STILL have current drain (Alex D)
After the battery is disconnected, disconnect the alternator and tape the wire end so it can't short to ground and then check the current draw again. A bad alternator can draw current all the time.
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Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
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From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Re: tested car, pulled all fuses, STILL have current drain (Fast one)
Your security light stays on????? It not suppose to do that... you need to fix that first...
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,540
Likes: 0
From: bloomfield nj
Re: tested car, pulled all fuses, STILL have current drain (lucaslawfirm)
the proper way to check for a current drain is to hook your multimeter to the NEG side between the cable and the post.have your meter on the amp scale[red lead in the 10a fused scale of the meter].after you let everything time out,you should see between 20-30ma[.020-.030].i'm assuming your meter is showing you 5 amps.if it's showing you 5 amps,you have a heavy load[be it the alternator/starter].with that kind of draw,whatever is pulling the battery down will be hot and the battery should be dead overnight.i'm also assuming you're using a digital multimeter[fluke,etc.].
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 112
Likes: 1
From: Dallas Texas
Re: tested car, pulled all fuses, STILL have current drain (lucaslawfirm)
Used an analog gauge, but I guess it's got to be the alternator or starter, will check further. There are no aftermarket electronics in the car, what's the deal with the security light, anyojne had that problem (intermittent on while driving)?
Thanks,
Jay
Thanks,
Jay
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,540
Likes: 0
From: bloomfield nj
Re: tested car, pulled all fuses, STILL have current drain (lucaslawfirm)
if you're using a analog meter,you are chasing your tail[not enough impendance].you have to get a digital meter to check it right.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 7,370
Likes: 8
From: Slave to the evil empire
Cruise-In V Veteran
St. Jude Donor '04
Re: tested car, pulled all fuses, STILL have current drain (Evil-Twin)
Your security light stays on????? It not suppose to do that... you need to fix that first...
Maybe one of the door switches is malfunctioning, I know this is a common problem on the C3 and I'm not familiar with how the switch is supposed to operate on the C5 but that may be a good place to look :cheers:
