Battery drain, help please

KyleEBK · Mar 7, 2008

Ok I am having a battery drain at car rest issue
I used a digital multimeter and it blew my fuses in the dmm, i hooked it up in series with all doors shut and car off and had it on 10 amps it said just 1 and after a while the fuse blew and it shwoed 0

so this means im gettting a 10 amp+ drain at rest right?

Ok so I have a automotive test light and grounded it and went thru the fuse box it lit up dimly for accessorie slot, maybe the clock? I have no radio in the vehicle

It then lit up pretty bright when i checked the fog lamps/parking lamps/mirrors/somethin else slot does this mean i have a drain coming from this area somewhere?

i chcked other slots and got nothing

so what should i make of this? I need to solve this problem, i could take it in but i want to do it myself anyone have any ideas how i should approach this and what to make of the fog lamps ect wiring?

help please

HISSIN50 · Mar 7, 2008

Assuming the meter was connected properly, I'd pull every fuse and disconnect everything on the load-side of the solenoid (sans the positive battery cable). You should hopefully have zero draw at this point. Then start reconnecting items one at a time (on the solenoid, then the fuses. Pay real attention when the alt's charge cable gets reconnected). And be careful of fire hazards, damaging your meter and all that if you're blowing fuses in your meter.

Good luck.

irish · Mar 7, 2008

I had a similar issue, I think the best thing you could do is replace the fuse in the dvom, then take a picture of how you had it setup when you ran the test and post it. Part of my issue was that I had the dvom set up incorrectly, the other portion was bad grounds, and bad wiring(non-ford)from the previous owner. The only draw with the car off should be the computer memory which is a tiny draw. 10 amps? thats huge enough for me to doubt your reading was done right. So ascertaining what exactly is the amount of the draw, then isolating it as hissin50 suggested, would be the way to go.

Matt

KyleEBK · Mar 8, 2008

It was a big draw im pretty sure of it i watched the battery drop 1 volt in about 8 minutes of having the cables on the battery

KyleEBK · Mar 8, 2008

Ok i have the car in the garage right now with new fuses for the DMM I checked in series the draw and got 3.45 amps steady , vehicle was at rest no key ignition hatch open but theres no light in the hatch this was while i had the fuse for the foglamps pulled out(read above i suspected thatw as where the drain was)
so what do i check now, what kind of short would cause that draw? The wires for the battery in the rear run under the car should i suspect these wires?

we are now going to jack it up and take a look udnerneath

KyleEBK · Mar 8, 2008

ok we checked out the wire didnt see anything

with everything shut we had 2.5 amp draw

i pulled every single fuse in the fuse box and the draw lowered to 2.00-2.01

so with no fuses it has a 2 amp draw, what should i do now?

suggestions and comments please

We are gonna go back out and bypass the wires running underneatth the car and hook up a battery in front with different set of wires

KyleEBK · Mar 8, 2008

ok so we have all the fuses out and hooked up a battery in the front with different set of wires still getting a 2.0 amp draw

not real sure what to try next

need some help please

jrichker · Mar 8, 2008

Disconnect the alternator. Make sure that you have the battery disconnected before you disconnect the alternator to prevent any possible short circuit activity from bare wires, and wrenches rubbing against ground.

Diagram courtesy of Tmoss & Stang&2birds

HISSIN50 · Mar 8, 2008

KyleEBK said:
ok so we have all the fuses out and hooked up a battery in the front with different set of wires still getting a 2.0 amp draw.

not real sure what to try next

HISSIN50 said:
...... I'd pull every fuse and disconnect everything on the load-side of the solenoid (sans the positive battery cable). You should hopefully have zero draw at this point. Then start reconnecting items one at a time (on the solenoid, then the fuses. Pay real attention when the alt's charge cable gets reconnected).

KyleEBK · Mar 8, 2008

Ok we have made great strides in our progress
we tried the alternator, no change

we started pulling wires off the solenoid and we found where the drain is however there is alot of wires here

I have provided some pics of the wire let me know what you think and what i should do

this is alot of wires

we have a 1.9 amp drain from this wire, all fuses are out, i even unhooked the wire by the driver side seatbelt(not sure what it does)

also the motor and trans are from a 92 5.0 and the car is a 84 svo

KyleEBK · Mar 8, 2008

Ok i checked that silver box shown above and numbers 2 and 4 from the left, of the metal connections above my thumb had the draw in it, what is the box? and where do the wires go

KyleEBK · Mar 8, 2008

Ok another post looking for help yet

narrowed it down to 1 wire here are some pics

the wire on the end that my thumb is directly under is the wire that has the draw in it... that plug plugs into the metal box shown in the first photo

wheres this wire go and whats this metal box? i looked at the diagrams but couldnt really find it anyone have any idea what my issue is?

jrichker · Mar 8, 2008

What are the wire colors with tracer stripe colors? Where is the connector located?

KyleEBK · Mar 8, 2008

the silver box and the connector that plugs into it are located near the stock battery mount, the yellow wire in the first set of pictures goes off the solenoid and then splits into buncha wires and the silver box and connector are part of that
the silver box says

WELLS

short circuit protected

thats all it says except the number on the other side which is showin in the second set of pictures

the wire appeared to be orange with maybe light blue stripe or grey stripe?

dgollem · Mar 8, 2008

Could be an old voltage regulator. I found a picture of a similar box on RockAuto parts http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/raf...de=1133738&parttype=4884&a=FRc1133738k1006169 Must be left over from the 4 banger daysI know I replaced many in an old dodge I used to have.

What dosen't work in the car with the silver box disconnected?

KyleEBK · Mar 8, 2008

yep the part in your picture is the one i have in my car that the plug connects too, however with the silver box disconnected the wire still draws

not sure what works and what doesnt its out of the garage and im done for tonight although im still looking for your comments and suggestions thanks for all the answers so far

KyleEBK · Mar 9, 2008

Im still looking for some advice on what the wire and box does anyone kno?

dgollem · Mar 9, 2008

My Haynes book 79-87 Mustangs has horrible wiring schematics it shows a 3 wire harness for the regulator but also caveats (late Model) I don't know if an 84 is considered a late model.. On this diagram, the regulator is routed thru several circuits, the alternator, an electric choke for carb, starter relay the ignition switch and even the rear window defogger, My copies are to poor to scan maybe you can finds some better schematic on the web.
Good Luck

Battery drain, help please

KyleEBK

Member

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?

irish

New Member

KyleEBK

Member

KyleEBK

Member

KyleEBK

Member

KyleEBK

Member

jrichker

StangNet's favorite TOOL

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?

KyleEBK

Member

KyleEBK

Member

KyleEBK

Member

jrichker

StangNet's favorite TOOL

KyleEBK

Member

dgollem

Attachments

KyleEBK

Member

KyleEBK

Member

dgollem

Similar threads

Battery drain, help please

Member

"How long does it take to get help in here?

New Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

StangNet's favorite TOOL

"How long does it take to get help in here?

Member

Member

Member

StangNet's favorite TOOL

Member

Attachments

Member

Member

Similar threads

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency