Battery Draining When Car is Off

HotRoddin · 06-15-2005, 06:29 PM

Turn everything off, pull the neg. batt cable and put an amp meter between the neg. batt terminal and the neg batt. cable clamp. It shouldn't read more than a few milliamps, just enough for a clock and/or the channel memory for your radio. If it's reading like 2 or 3 hundred milliamps then you have some kind of a drain, and you'll just have to disconnect one thing at a time until you find what it is.
Thats my 2 cents worth

Rod

RMARIANI · 06-16-2005, 07:44 AM

Thanks, HotRoddin. Could you (or anyone else) recommend some type of list or order of things I should be disconnecting to check for the source of the drain.

Also, does anyone know if an Optima Red Top needs to be charged in a special way? I had it hooked up to a 2 amp charger the other night for a few hours and it wouldn't even turn the engine over.

GhettoPop · 06-16-2005, 03:09 PM

although hard to diagnose like this, i would strongly suggest disconnecting the old alarm as a first stem. just look for the non-stock looking wires, make sure they run to the alarm. you should be able to cut them and tape them up. if this is over your head have a shop do it, but i think this may be your problem

~The Jester~ · 06-17-2005, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GhettoPop

although hard to diagnose like this, i would strongly suggest disconnecting the old alarm as a first stem. just look for the non-stock looking wires, make sure they run to the alarm. you should be able to cut them and tape them up. if this is over your head have a shop do it, but i think this may be your problem

YEP! What the Ghetto brutha said! D/C the alarm first, then see what happens. Checking the amperage between the cable and battery will tell you when you found it, just like HotRoddin said. That'll immediately tell you when you've found the problem, as opposed to waiting to see if the battery drains.

If the alarm isn't the problem, start with the most likely stuff. Vanity lights, glove box light, dome light, etc etc. I'm gonna go find a post on my website (www.knights-rule.com) There was an excellent thread on this same problem. Be right back!

~The Jester~ · 06-17-2005, 02:55 PM

Here's the thread:

http://www.knights-rule.com/cgi/ikon...=ST;f=13;t=499

06-15-2005, 06:29 PM	#1
HotRoddin cranky old man Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Longview Texas Posts: 683	Re: Battery Draining When Car is Off Turn everything off, pull the neg. batt cable and put an amp meter between the neg. batt terminal and the neg batt. cable clamp. It shouldn't read more than a few milliamps, just enough for a clock and/or the channel memory for your radio. If it's reading like 2 or 3 hundred milliamps then you have some kind of a drain, and you'll just have to disconnect one thing at a time until you find what it is. Thats my 2 cents worth Rod __________________ Under Construction: 64 Falcon 372 cu in. stroker 1:72 rod ratio 6.250" rods (long rod), Comp Cams XE274 230/236 520/526 @ .050, Scorpion Rollers, Roush 200 irons, 10:1 Keith Blacks, Hedman long tubes, 750 Holley DP, Edelbrock Victor Jr., C4 3500 stall, gears and tires to be anounced.

06-16-2005, 07:44 AM	#2
RMARIANI Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: New Jersey Posts: 167	Re: Battery Draining When Car is Off Thanks, HotRoddin. Could you (or anyone else) recommend some type of list or order of things I should be disconnecting to check for the source of the drain. Also, does anyone know if an Optima Red Top needs to be charged in a special way? I had it hooked up to a 2 amp charger the other night for a few hours and it wouldn't even turn the engine over.

06-16-2005, 03:09 PM	#3
GhettoPop Gimme a Drink! Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: NYC Posts: 694	Re: Battery Draining When Car is Off although hard to diagnose like this, i would strongly suggest disconnecting the old alarm as a first stem. just look for the non-stock looking wires, make sure they run to the alarm. you should be able to cut them and tape them up. if this is over your head have a shop do it, but i think this may be your problem __________________ 1990 GT,stock T-5,K&N w/o air silencer,March underdrives,FMS wires,timing@14*,PA Perf 130amp alt,Steeda Tri-Ax Shifter,Steeda adj quadrant/clutch cable/firewall adj,Centerforce II clutch,o/r x-pipe,Magnaflow SS catback,g-load brace, subframes,Bilstein struts/shocks,Autometer gauges, 136k and running strong!

06-17-2005, 02:55 PM	#5
~The Jester~ Rat Killer Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Cold ass Ohio Posts: 1,143	Re: Battery Draining When Car is Off Here's the thread: http://www.knights-rule.com/cgi/ikon...=ST;f=13;t=499 __________________ d-Con Racing "Nothing fancy, just 347 inches of RAT POISON!" MICE need not apply.....

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