Battery drain
#2
RE: Battery drain
do you know how to use a dmm? you can take parasitic current draw measurements. hook up your dmm set for amps dc, insert it in series between the negative battery post and cable. you need to make sure your doors are closed, lights are off, because their current draw will blow the meters fuse. start off on the 10 amp scale and drop down to the 200 milliamp scale once you've proven the current draw is less than 200 milliamps so you dont blow the fuse, and this lower scale will provide a more accurate reading. parasitic current is the current drain on the battery when the engine is off. it is created by the vehicles computer, clock, alarm systems, etc. once you have hooked up the dmm take note of the current measurement. leave the dmm hooked up long enough for the vehicles computer to shut off. i believe a half hour is sufficient for your vehicle. again take note of the current measurement. i'm not sure what the parasitic current draw should be for your vehicle, but 50 millamps or less would be a reasonable assumption. if the current draw is greater than this begin pulling fuses until the current reading drops to 50 millamps or less. by pulling fuses you'll identify what circuit is drawing excessive current. at this point you would need to examine that circuit. for example if you pull the alarm's fuse and the excessive current draw goes away you've now identified where the problem lies and you can troubleshoot from there.
#4
RE: Battery drain
This method of using an amp meter is the only way to determine how much of a draw you have on the system. This is a very good explanation of what to do to find it. There is no other good way to fix a draw then if you don't know how to use these tools.
#5
RE: Battery drain
Ok,someone just emailed me and said to connect a test light to the negative cable after disconnecting the cable from the battery,the light should be on,then disconnect fuses till the light goes out.That is the power loss site? Does that sound feasable?Do I connect the pointer of the test light to the negative side of the battery?
#6
RE: Battery drain
It can be done this way, but not very accurate. What to do is disconnect the neg battery cable and install the test light between in series. Then do the same procedure as stated above until the light is dim. Make sure the key is off along with turning off the interior light.
#7
RE: Battery drain
Pulled ALL the fuses inside the car and all but the black 80 amp in the engine compartment without putting the test light out? It dimmed slightly as each was pulled but nothing showed up as different when any of the fuses were pulled?
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FollyFollyFolly
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10-24-2011 07:44 AM