Diagnosing Battery Draw (Battery Goes Dead Overnight)
video description
Date: 2020-08-05
Related videos
Comments and reviews: 10
Bezaleel
When you removed the relay you not only stopped the parasitic current draw due to the faulty fuel door switch it also removed the passenger multiplex units ability to close and lock the door electronically since the normally closed relay contact connects the door locking mechanism to the central and electronic door controls. Remove the relay and both the Fuel door open and the central/remote door closing are both disconnected. You should have opened the fuel filler door and at least looked at the fuel door switch and see if part of it or the door had broken off preventing it from detecting the door being closed. If nothing is visibly missing that can be replaced with some glue and a block of rubber then possibly disconnect the switch so the relay could remain in place and allow the central locking system and remote door open/closer to operate or at least see if it will operate. Parasitic drain would be gone and the central locking would likely have worked just fine. But since this is over a year old it's all moot anyway.
reply
When you removed the relay you not only stopped the parasitic current draw due to the faulty fuel door switch it also removed the passenger multiplex units ability to close and lock the door electronically since the normally closed relay contact connects the door locking mechanism to the central and electronic door controls. Remove the relay and both the Fuel door open and the central/remote door closing are both disconnected. You should have opened the fuel filler door and at least looked at the fuel door switch and see if part of it or the door had broken off preventing it from detecting the door being closed. If nothing is visibly missing that can be replaced with some glue and a block of rubber then possibly disconnect the switch so the relay could remain in place and allow the central locking system and remote door open/closer to operate or at least see if it will operate. Parasitic drain would be gone and the central locking would likely have worked just fine. But since this is over a year old it's all moot anyway.
reply
turtlezed
re, your 5 turns measuring the current with an inductive clamp.
Snap-On low amp 'probe' (clamp) D. C. measuring range starts from 10mA and I cant find any info on the lowest D. C mA reading the fluke 325 clamp, that Ivan uses, will read (only its 2%+/- accuracy)was thinking of buying something as a quick and easy goto rather than digging out the verus every time (and having it as a second 'probe'. it is probably a good way of multiplying a reading to get it into the range of an inferior clamp with a less sensitive starting range of measurement. then you can divide the reading by the no' of turns to get the draw. obvious to you I realise but one just dawning on me now I'm shopping for a current clamp I don't have to pay big bucks for.
reply
re, your 5 turns measuring the current with an inductive clamp.
Snap-On low amp 'probe' (clamp) D. C. measuring range starts from 10mA and I cant find any info on the lowest D. C mA reading the fluke 325 clamp, that Ivan uses, will read (only its 2%+/- accuracy)was thinking of buying something as a quick and easy goto rather than digging out the verus every time (and having it as a second 'probe'. it is probably a good way of multiplying a reading to get it into the range of an inferior clamp with a less sensitive starting range of measurement. then you can divide the reading by the no' of turns to get the draw. obvious to you I realise but one just dawning on me now I'm shopping for a current clamp I don't have to pay big bucks for.
reply
Antonio
Eric O says like back in the old days when you used to have to think. I'm twice his age and remember those days so well. That phrase can be used to criticize the modern age where technology is depended upon to make sure we are safe. There are times as Eric described in this video where things can converge so this can be a life saver. However today I read that Tesla released a software update that allows their cars to start and travel up to 200 feet to their owners using a smartphone. The newspaper I read this on said as an example for someone to have their car pick them up at the front of Costco. This is the wrong use of this technology. It shouldn't be used to enable our laziness. Great job Eric.
reply
Eric O says like back in the old days when you used to have to think. I'm twice his age and remember those days so well. That phrase can be used to criticize the modern age where technology is depended upon to make sure we are safe. There are times as Eric described in this video where things can converge so this can be a life saver. However today I read that Tesla released a software update that allows their cars to start and travel up to 200 feet to their owners using a smartphone. The newspaper I read this on said as an example for someone to have their car pick them up at the front of Costco. This is the wrong use of this technology. It shouldn't be used to enable our laziness. Great job Eric.
reply
TortureBot
Between watching you chase down things like parasitic draws and the classes I am taking to earn a degree in Industrial Electronics, I think I might finally end up as half the troubleshooter you are.
I was able to make an educated guess as to what the problem was as you were looking through the wiring diagrams. I still watched until the end and was happy to see you come to the conclusion I did. Now if I could get myself to do it as quickly as you do, I will feel fantastic!
Thanks for the informative videos. I don't know how you find time to run your business, spend time with the family, make the videos, and edit them the way you do.
reply
Between watching you chase down things like parasitic draws and the classes I am taking to earn a degree in Industrial Electronics, I think I might finally end up as half the troubleshooter you are.
I was able to make an educated guess as to what the problem was as you were looking through the wiring diagrams. I still watched until the end and was happy to see you come to the conclusion I did. Now if I could get myself to do it as quickly as you do, I will feel fantastic!
Thanks for the informative videos. I don't know how you find time to run your business, spend time with the family, make the videos, and edit them the way you do.
reply
C.
My brand new battery on my 85 toy 4runner was dead within 6 hrs. What in the world would draw on that battery that much that quick. I'm thinking the altenator needs replaced but besides that it obviously has a draw from some wrong wiring prob under the drivers side dash? So as soon as I get this battery charged back up I'm going to start it up and test altenator and those fuses and wires. and go from there. What comes to your mind tho first hand when I tell you that within 6 hrs my brand new battery was dead. ?
reply
My brand new battery on my 85 toy 4runner was dead within 6 hrs. What in the world would draw on that battery that much that quick. I'm thinking the altenator needs replaced but besides that it obviously has a draw from some wrong wiring prob under the drivers side dash? So as soon as I get this battery charged back up I'm going to start it up and test altenator and those fuses and wires. and go from there. What comes to your mind tho first hand when I tell you that within 6 hrs my brand new battery was dead. ?
reply
Christopher
Had a 18 dodge caravan with a 260 ma draw jumping up to 1. 200 amps at times with car off. Traced it down to the instrument cluster keeping the bus awake. Check the wiring for the cluster found a bunch of interior accessories fed by the cluster. Ended finding third row overhead led light was shorted. Barely emitting any light, which in return kept the cluster awake internally causing the rest of the bus to come awake at times.
reply
Had a 18 dodge caravan with a 260 ma draw jumping up to 1. 200 amps at times with car off. Traced it down to the instrument cluster keeping the bus awake. Check the wiring for the cluster found a bunch of interior accessories fed by the cluster. Ended finding third row overhead led light was shorted. Barely emitting any light, which in return kept the cluster awake internally causing the rest of the bus to come awake at times.
reply
Keeping
This is exactly what is going on in my 2007 Odyssey. I'm going to pull that relay through the speaker hole. What if I skip that part and just replace the fuel door switch? You mean the switch that I push from the driver position that opens the fuel door; that button? Why does it work when I push it to open the fuel door still, though? Removing the relay through the speaker hole will stop the fuel door from working, no?
reply
This is exactly what is going on in my 2007 Odyssey. I'm going to pull that relay through the speaker hole. What if I skip that part and just replace the fuel door switch? You mean the switch that I push from the driver position that opens the fuel door; that button? Why does it work when I push it to open the fuel door still, though? Removing the relay through the speaker hole will stop the fuel door from working, no?
reply
JAMES
Eric, this video was instrumental in diagnosing the parasitic draw on my daughters 2005 Hyundai Tiburon. Meter showed a 3 amp draw. Pulled fuses and relays one-by-one, under hood and under dash. Twice. Still a draw! Sat and thought about it. what component is hooked to the battery, but not the fuse box? Alternator was shorted internally. Thanks for all you do.
reply
Eric, this video was instrumental in diagnosing the parasitic draw on my daughters 2005 Hyundai Tiburon. Meter showed a 3 amp draw. Pulled fuses and relays one-by-one, under hood and under dash. Twice. Still a draw! Sat and thought about it. what component is hooked to the battery, but not the fuse box? Alternator was shorted internally. Thanks for all you do.
reply
Richard
Better advice - Make sure you put your meter connections back to voltage after measuring current otherwise when you go to measure volts with the cables left in for current you will blow the fuse in the meter. If you do it the other way round there are no ill effects, but left in current measuring setup you will be upset.
reply
Better advice - Make sure you put your meter connections back to voltage after measuring current otherwise when you go to measure volts with the cables left in for current you will blow the fuse in the meter. If you do it the other way round there are no ill effects, but left in current measuring setup you will be upset.
reply
Diesel
Since the amperage draw at the + side of the battery should be the same as the - side, would it make any real difference if you were to measure amperage draw at the - side instead of the + side of the battery or vice versa?
reply
Since the amperage draw at the + side of the battery should be the same as the - side, would it make any real difference if you were to measure amperage draw at the - side instead of the + side of the battery or vice versa?
reply
Add a review, comment
Other channel videos
