• Mustang Forums
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech

fully charged battery dies within 2 days

  • Thread starter Thread starter SSS281
  • Start date Start date Jul 23, 2007
S

SSS281

Founding Member
Dec 27, 2001
2,236
0
46
Kutztown, PA
Jul 23, 2007
#1
  • Jul 23, 2007
  • #1
im not sure how this all started because the car used to sit 3-6 months at a time and then fire right up the first time id try. but lately it cant go 3 days. i charge my battery with a charger until full, drop it in the car and i hook up a voltmeter and theres a 1.41 amp draw with the car off and doors shut/nothing on. i start playing around with some things like the radio on/off windows up/down and then shut everything off again and close the door and now im up to a 6.43 draw. i pull the #6 fuse under the hood for "instrument cluster/pcm" and it drops to 0.00 instantly. i noticed when that fuse is pulled the instrument cluster still works fine and lights up. the things that are affected are: one touch window down (windows still work), power locks, dome light, and speakers. when i plugged the fuse back in it jumped back up to 6.43. i disconnected my amps in the back for the mach460 and the speakers still work just no bass now but the draw dropped in half to 3.2 any ideas where i can poke around and find the other part of the draw? i pulled the fuses for theft, locks, and windows on the interior panel as well and it didnt drop. thanks for your help.
 

goshia

New Member
Jul 1, 2005
252
0
0
Mead, Colorado
Jul 23, 2007
#2
  • Jul 23, 2007
  • #2
Have you done any mods on your car in the last few months?
 

the98stang

Active Member
Aug 12, 2005
2,408
0
47
Clovis, CA
Jul 23, 2007
#3
  • Jul 23, 2007
  • #3
Get a bigger/better alternator. Yours is going out.
 
B

bakos24

I find there is nothing better than a tasty wiener
Nov 29, 1999
4,461
87
134
NE, OH
Jul 23, 2007
#4
  • Jul 23, 2007
  • #4
Mine does this too, and has been. I just got a new DD on thursday. Drove the new car the whole time until yesterday, get in the stang and start it up and almost did not start. I can tell the battery has been draining because all the gauges did a full sweep, same thing today when I went to work, start the stang and gauges do a full sweep. I need to drive it the next few days to get the battery back charged.
 

jeffnoel

Founding Member
Aug 31, 2002
1,638
5
37
Clovis, CA
Jul 23, 2007
#5
  • Jul 23, 2007
  • #5
I don't think a new alternator going to fix it, you've got a short somewere that's tied to that #6 fuse.
 

Wolvrin704

Member
Apr 17, 2007
120
0
17
Milford, OH
Jul 23, 2007
#6
  • Jul 23, 2007
  • #6
I agree with the alternator. I've had allot of experience with charging issues with my F150's 4.6 and I've had to replace the alternator 2x along with an alternator wiring harness, 1 battery, 2 negative cables, a positive cable and the starter. I don't yet know how much different if any the charging system is between the F150 and the Mustang but the one on my truck sucks.
 

jeffnoel

Founding Member
Aug 31, 2002
1,638
5
37
Clovis, CA
Jul 23, 2007
#7
  • Jul 23, 2007
  • #7
He's got something draining the battery while the key is off, he's hasn't said the alt wasn't charging. Maybe in his next reply he will update us and tell us what voltage he's getting while running.
 
S

SSS281

Founding Member
Dec 27, 2001
2,236
0
46
Kutztown, PA
Jul 24, 2007
#8
  • Jul 24, 2007
  • #8
i will start it and check tonight. although the alternator might be a problem that i dont know, but the draining of the battery isnt caused by the alternator. its something else on that #6 slot 40amp fuse because when i pull that it goes to 0.00. thanks for the replies
 
S

SSS281

Founding Member
Dec 27, 2001
2,236
0
46
Kutztown, PA
Jul 24, 2007
#9
  • Jul 24, 2007
  • #9
goshia said:
Have you done any mods on your car in the last few months?
Click to expand...
no new mods to the car, havent touched anything really. i did put a stereo in the car but then yanked the whole thing out but that was last year. there is now no radio at all (not even factory) hooked up
 
3

35th99gt

New Member
Sep 16, 2006
33
0
0
Jul 24, 2007
#10
  • Jul 24, 2007
  • #10
I have the same problem, i had it looked at and what was draining my battery was one of my amps wouldn't go on standby mode when my car was off, and my GEM wouldnt go on stanby mode either when my car was off. so they were pretty much both on at the same time while my car was off.
 
S

SSS281

Founding Member
Dec 27, 2001
2,236
0
46
Kutztown, PA
Jul 24, 2007
#11
  • Jul 24, 2007
  • #11
what is the GEM? one of the amps was faulty so i pulled them both out i have a 15" sub to give me all the bass i need anyway. maybe the GEM is my other problem too im trying to think of what that would stand for but im drawing a blank. its the end of the day im burned out. thanks for the input
 
N

n0v8or

10 Year Member
Aug 23, 2003
604
8
39
Rhode Island
Jul 24, 2007
#12
  • Jul 24, 2007
  • #12
GEM = "Generic Electronics Module", so-called because it is used in virtually every Ford and Mercury model. Also known as the "Multifunction Electronics Module", it controls remote keyless entry, electric door locks, trunk release, trunk light, interior courtesy lights, intermittent windshield wipers, auto-down driver's window, and some other subsystems.

The GEM "goes to sleep" after 20 minutes or so, and current draw should be less than 20mA (0.02 Amp). However, disconnecting and reconnecting the battery, or opening a door, will cause it to "wake up" and draw a higher current. After connecting your current meter, you have to wait 20 minutes or more for the GEM to shut down before you can get an accurate reading of standby current.
 

Rusty67

20+ Year Stangneter
Dec 3, 2002
3,749
37
109
LA, CA
Jul 24, 2007
#13
  • Jul 24, 2007
  • #13
SSS281 said:
what is the GEM? one of the amps was faulty so i pulled them both out i have a 15" sub to give me all the bass i need anyway. maybe the GEM is my other problem too im trying to think of what that would stand for but im drawing a blank. its the end of the day im burned out. thanks for the input
Click to expand...

My dad's Bullitt had a wire in the trunk that wasn't properly insulated which caused a short that kept the GEM awake at all times. We didn't know we even had the problem for a long time. The Ford mechanic that fixed it (it was still under warrenty) said there is a TSB about a specific wire in the trunk that is for the stereo system. Apparently this isn't the most uncommon problem in the world if there is a TSB on it.
 
S

SSS281

Founding Member
Dec 27, 2001
2,236
0
46
Kutztown, PA
Jul 29, 2007
#14
  • Jul 29, 2007
  • #14
im drawing .3 now...thanks for your help everyone guess the GEM had to go on standby
 
M

Miranda

New Member
Dec 19, 2014
2
0
0
Dec 19, 2014
#15
  • Dec 19, 2014
  • #15
I am having this same problem. Where is this GEM thing located...? I've checked my lights and radio. All of it goes off.
 

Rusty67

20+ Year Stangneter
Dec 3, 2002
3,749
37
109
LA, CA
Dec 21, 2014
#16
  • Dec 21, 2014
  • #16
Miranda said:
I am having this same problem. Where is this GEM thing located...? I've checked my lights and radio. All of it goes off.
Click to expand...

Please start your own thread on the forum and we can try to help you from there. You can reference the other 2 threads you have looked at.

For reference, the GEM is located under the driver's side dash.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

A
Resolved 03 GT Parasitic Draw Fuse 26 (PCM)
  • Antrix
  • Mar 22, 2025
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Replies
2
Views
693
SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech Mar 24, 2025
89ripper
F
Alternator Not Charging
  • Fri Guy
  • Aug 29, 2025
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
7
Views
407
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Aug 31, 2025
AeroCoupe
89 power window issue
  • Creomod
  • Sep 5, 2025
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
14
Views
482
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Oct 4, 2025
WillWho?
W
C
Stock 1993 charging issue at idle
  • Charlie1
  • Sep 21, 2025
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
7
Views
303
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Sep 24, 2025
Mustang5L5
D
Possible Parasitic Draw... Follow My Journey
  • daveinfl33777
  • Jan 11, 2025
  • SN95 V6 Mustang Tech
  • 2 3
Replies
48
Views
3K
SN95 V6 Mustang Tech Apr 4, 2025
dennisc
D
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?