Something is draining the battery....

[Thomas H.]

Re: Something is draining the battery....

The clamp on ones work just as well as the in line ones do for what you are trying to accomplish.

Surprised you took out the 10 amp fuse in the meter. Did you have all of the other fuses pulled?

Those meter fuses are normally replaceable, just open the meter up and find it.

Tom

[Robert O.]

[Mark E.]

Re: Something is draining the battery....

You're good with .15 amp draw.

Let's hope the problem isn't intermittent. To sleep better, turn the wiper knob back to where it was then check the current draw to see if that was your problem.

You might also recharge your battery to save your original alternator from a lot of heat and load.

[Robert O.]

Re: Something is draining the battery....

Thanks Mark

Not sure where the wiper knob was, but will ck it in both positions.

As a Xerox technical instructor once told me: Problems which go away by themselves can return by themselves...

will ck the batt voltage later this am. if still no drop, will put the charger on it to bring it back up. will make it a point to run the engine daily for the next few days - or forever maybe.... lol

thanks

bob

[Duke W.]

Re: Something is draining the battery....

150 milliamps is a significant draw unless the car has an alarm that's armed. There is a leak path through the alternator/voltage regulator, but it shoudn't be more than about 10-20 ma. That leaves only the clock, but if it's the solenoid/spring wind type as on C2s, it will only draw current when the solenoid energizes momentarily to rewind the spring.

Try disconnecting the alternator side connector and see how much the draw drops. Then disconnect the hot lead and see if it drops any more.

Duke

[Thomas H.]

Re: Something is draining the battery....

150 milliamps is a significant draw unless the car has an alarm that's armed. There is a leak path through the alternator/voltage regulator, but it shoudn't be more than about 10-20 ma. That leaves only the clock, but if it's the solenoid/spring wind type as on C2s, it will only draw current when the solenoid energizes momentarily to rewind the spring.

Try disconnecting the alternator side connector and see how much the draw drops. Then disconnect the hot lead and see if it drops any more.

Duke

I agree with Duke - you still have some poking around to do. While 150 mA may seem insignificant it will, over time, drain the battery down. You see evidence of this in your voltage measurements taken over the course of 53 hours.

Could be the diode bridge in the alternator has some leaking diodes, more so then usual....... You'll know that after your do what Duke suggests.

Keep up the hunt!

Tom

[Robert O.]

Re: Something is draining the battery....

Thanks Thomas and Duke

With Easter just 2 days away, i must turn my attention to church and family... jury duty monday. Have disconnected the battery since i dont know when i will be released from jury. Weather permitting (sunny, upper 60s, dry pavement), i will probably take her out for a spin to break up the monotony of all this poking, prodding, and disabling circuits. Will try the alternator tests mentioned first, then i may disable the clock if i can do so without damaging it. And, the only component i haven't checked yet is the wiper relay... Jeez... why did they put it right in the middle of the console and build the cockpit around it...

Thanks, fellas

bob

[Thomas H.]

Re: Something is draining the battery....

Bob,

Sounds like a plan. Always a nice feeling to be able to button everything back up and go for a spin.

When you get back at it, there should be a fuse for the clock. Just pull that instead of trying to mess around behind the console.

Tom

[Robert O.]

Re: Something is draining the battery....

yeah, i put the driver seat back in this evening, will put the passenger seat back in tomorrow morning, reinstall the alternator belt, and done for now..