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2008 CX-9 Touring Battery Drain

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  #1  
Old 02-25-2020, 07:31 PM
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Default 2008 CX-9 Touring Battery Drain

Hello...if the car is parked for 3-4 days, when I try to start it the battery is dead. Something is draining my battery - actually, 3 batteries now.

Is this happening to anyone else?
 
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Old 03-03-2020, 12:21 PM
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Glove box light remaining on due to a bad switch? Any other light that is out of sight that could be staying on? If you locate one, see if it's warm when it should be out & cold.

A shop or helpful friend can put an ammeter on a battery lead then remove one fuse at a time to locate the errant current draw. Don't buy more batteries...that's not the problem.
 
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Old 03-03-2020, 03:17 PM
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The first thing to do is charge any battery you are using and load test them..
Then by using a Diagnostic Tool check the OBDII diagnostic connector and look for any DTC or pending DTC and also a peak at the monitors.

Your response although says you have tried 3 batteries, means little if first you don't know if the batteries are ok. A new battery or a fully charged battery is not a qualification of a good battery!

There are a few circuits that will draw power so pulling fuses to find which one is drawing power is not really how you do it on newer vehicles. You must measure the ohms and then check the specification for the proper draw or power use of that circuit.
I can save you the time if you are asking how to do this it would be better for you to take it to a shop and at least have them check you battery and charging rate first and then discuss the diagnostic hunt for you power drain. You can expect unless they get lucky and find it right away for at least 2 hour labor charge.
 
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Old 03-18-2020, 08:32 PM
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@PTguy @Callisto Thank you the reply. Mechanic kept the car for a couple days, No luck finding the parasitic drain.
 
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Old 03-18-2020, 08:38 PM
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I got a tip that the ground connection shown in the pic could have something to do with a parasitic drain. Does anyone know what it's connected to?


 
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Old 03-18-2020, 10:04 PM
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Grounds like the one pictured or for that matter any ground that is bolted securely without being insulated to form a complete grounding circuit from the chassis, frame and engine do not cause a parasitic drain on a battery in a 12 volt system .

In fact it is a good idea to add several more ground straps and wires to your car to improve the connectablitly of the 12 volt system.
They even have DIY kits to add more ground connections.

I still did not read that the batter was properly load tested? I see that the battery is sold date Nov of 2019 so that means that the retail stocking and manufactures date could be a few months older?

Not to be rude but if your "mechanic" had the car for 2 days and did not find the problem...time to find another shop!


 

Last edited by Callisto; 03-18-2020 at 10:13 PM.
  #7  
Old 03-19-2020, 10:45 AM
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Power drains can be a pain to find. Takes time, patience and a voltmeter.
 
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Old 03-19-2020, 11:41 AM
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For someone experienced and more so having formal training in electronics's specifically Automotive Diagnostics it generally only takes no more then an hour to locate at least the circuit that is causing a battery drain. Naturally it is important to have the information on the vehicle you are working to know those systems that do have a constant supply of power to keep them active and then do the math to subtract what they need from what is actually being used from the battery . If it is wires damaged in the system finding those wires is a little more time , i.e. rats or rodents chewing on wires, the protective jacket exposed by age,weather,, or routing etc. This does take in most cases about an additional hour to narrow it down to a section of the damaged harness effected. The big part is knowing how to use the Digital volt ohm diagnostic tool. I know we all like to think we know how to use them but it has been my observation helping my friends with their cars that most only know a few of the several of setting on even the simplest of electrical voltage measuring tools,
 
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Old 03-21-2020, 03:56 PM
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Forgot to start the ###### car yesterday AM, and battery was drained this AM. AAA just jumped it again. The work-from-home everyday thing is messing-me-up. Need to get in the habit of starting it everyday and letting idle 20-30 mins.

@Callisto Thanks again for chiming-in. To clarify my question about the ground. I didn't ask if the ground could CAUSE a parasitic drain. I asked if anyone knew what components are connected to the ground in the pic.

Also the battery, any battery, was ruled-out a long time ago. In the past several months, I've been through two (2) brand new Bosch batteries from Pep Boys - both under warranty from a 3rd Bosch that lasted under 3 years. After being jumped, the Bosch batteries did not hold a charge anymore. The current battery's been jumped three (3) times, including today. Tomorrow the car will start. If I wait till the day after tomorrow, the car will not start and the battery will need to be jumped again.

I'm going to post on Nextdoor.com and network myself to a specialist...
 
  #10  
Old 03-21-2020, 04:00 PM
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Originally Posted by Bronco Boy
Power drains can be a pain to find. Takes time, patience and a voltmeter.
You ain't lyin' my friend...and I don't have either of those three (3) things right now. On the bright side, I'm finally getting some value out of the AAA membership. :-)
 


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