Please Help...Electrical Problem

L

limppimp

Founding Member

Mar 10, 2002

149

0

0

Mar 18, 2006

#1

• Mar 18, 2006

• #1

I have done some searching on this problem and cant seem to get a clear answer. My car battery keeps draining when the car is turned off. When it sits over night it is completely drained the next morning. I had the alternator tested and it was fine. This is also my second brand new battery. I hear you can hook up a multi-meter and pull fuses to find out which circuit is draining. How exactly do you do this? I am a beginner when it comes to using a multimeter and electrical problems so I need specifics on everything. Thanks!

 

n8rsk8r

New Member

Dec 23, 2004

0

0

0

TwiLight zOne!!

Mar 18, 2006

#2

• Mar 18, 2006

• #2

is there any aftermarket stuff you have on your ride?

 

jrichker

StangNet's favorite TOOL

In Remembrance. Thank you for your contributions

Mar 10, 2000

27,512

2,811

234

Dublin GA

Mar 18, 2006

#3

• Mar 18, 2006

• #3

Typically it is something draining the battery. Small things like glove box or courtesy lights are often the culprits. If you have an aftermarket stereo or alarm system, it is also suspect.

The ideal method is to disconnect the positive terminal, and connect a Digital Multimeter (DVM) between the positive terminal on the battery and the positive cable. Set the DVM on a low current scale of 2-5 amps if it doesn't auto range. Watch the current draw, and then start pulling out fuses. When you see a sudden drop in the current, that circuit is the likely culprit. Note that the computer, radio & clock will draw less than 1/10 amp to keep the settings alive.

See http://assets.fluke.com/appnotes/automotive/beatbook.pdf. You will need the Adobe Acrobat viewer which is also a free download – http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

 

L

limppimp

Founding Member

Mar 10, 2002

149

0

0

Mar 18, 2006

#4

• Mar 18, 2006

• #4

OK here is what I have done:
I pulled each fuse and put a DVM where the fuse was. I set my DVM to read amps at 200 micros. Two things really stuck out. My [Air Bag System] is drawing 106.1 and my [Brake on/off (BOO) switch, Electronic Flasher] is drawing 68.3 amps. Are these normal?

 

L

limppimp

Founding Member

Mar 10, 2002

149

0

0

Mar 18, 2006

#5

• Mar 18, 2006

• #5

By the way my airbag flashes this code

34 | Low resistance in driver air bag circuit | L |

Its been doing it for about a year now. But I never had a problem witht he battery until now. Could that be the problem?

 

Saleen0679

10 Year Member

Apr 14, 2005

876

24

49

Yakima, WA

Mar 18, 2006

#6

• Mar 18, 2006

• #6

limppimp said:

OK here is what I have done:
I pulled each fuse and put a DVM where the fuse was. I set my DVM to read amps at 200 micros. Two things really stuck out. My [Air Bag System] is drawing 106.1 and my [Brake on/off (BOO) switch, Electronic Flasher] is drawing 68.3 amps. Are these normal?

Click to expand...

Anything you pick up on the microamp scale is going to be negligible and would not drain your battery overnight. Put all your fuses back in and connect the meter between your battery and cable as mentioned in JRichkers post to see what the total current draw of the car is and try to narrow it down that way by seeing which fuse(s) cause the most drop.

 

J

JRPony

New Member

Jun 10, 2005

83

0

0

Las Vegas, NV

Mar 18, 2006

#7

• Mar 18, 2006

• #7

Are you sure its not milliamps? 106mA and 68.3mA are both huge draws. BTW, just a reminder, make sure the key is off when checking the current draw.

 

J

JRPony

New Member

Jun 10, 2005

83

0

0

Las Vegas, NV

Mar 18, 2006

#8

• Mar 18, 2006

• #8

limppimp said:

By the way my airbag flashes this code

34 | Low resistance in driver air bag circuit | L |

Its been doing it for about a year now. But I never had a problem witht he battery until now. Could that be the problem?

Click to expand...

Low resistance = shorted circuit. Could be your problem.

 

L

limppimp

Founding Member

Mar 10, 2002

149

0

0

Mar 18, 2006

#9

• Mar 18, 2006

• #9

Well it has the symbol for micro on it. (the u looking symbol) I had it on 200u.

I beginning to think the air bag might be the problem. I need to fix it anyway. Any idea on how to fix that code 34?

 

L

limppimp

Founding Member

Mar 10, 2002

149

0

0

Mar 18, 2006

#10

• Mar 18, 2006

• #10

and yes, I did have the key off.

 

L

limppimp

Founding Member

Mar 10, 2002

149

0

0

Mar 19, 2006

#11

• Mar 19, 2006

• #11

bttt