Electrical Parasitic Draw, Fuse 8

[N8827N]

I found the battery in my newly acquired '89 GT dead every four or five days if not driven more frequently. Battery and alternator checked out good so I tested for a draw with a multimeter and sure enough found a constant 183 milli-amp draw. Pulled one fuse at a time and narrowed it to #8 (courtesy lights, clock, key warning, fuel door, mirrors, and radio). Disconnected every switch that was easily accessible, pulled the radio and disconnected it, all with no luck. After about a week of head scratching, I realized I forgot to check vanity mirror lights in the back side of the sun visors. Yep, drivers side on all the time. The only thing wrong was the flap that covers the mirror had gotten soft and floppy to the point it wouldn't press the tiny spring switch into its open position. Ugh. So simple it's frustrating, but an easy, cheap fix in the end.

 

[gkomo]

I bet that happens more often than not on these old cars. My visors aren't in the best shape but thankfully are still able to turn off the vanity lights.

For checking the draw, do you just attach a multimeter to both matching terminals on the battery and set it to read milliamps and see what comes up on the screen?

 

[nickyb]

To check draw use multimeter hooked up to battery by taking negative terminal off and connecting either multimeter probe to one side and the other to the other side. ( one to battery and one to the terminal .

 

[2000xp8]

I didn't think there were any vanity mirrors still functioning correctly at this point and I haven't seen any repros yet.
You can take out of the screws that hold the mirror to the body and unplug the mirror and put it back together.

 

[Mustang5L5]

I didn't think there were any vanity mirrors still functioning correctly at this point

Mine work, but i have them disconnected because of this reason. The little buttons sometimes don't work. After walking into my garage in the dark and seeing a light on inside the car, thought it best to unplug them and avoid the issue.

I don't see the need ot check myself out it in the dark in my car. I know i'm ugly.

 

[2000xp8]

Let me clarify, when I suggested they didn't work, I meant work correctly and stay closed.
If the lights themselves didn't work there would be no need to unplug them.