2008 Expedition intermittent electrical leak
#1
2008 Expedition intermittent electrical leak
Hey folks I am new to this forum, but have gleaned some useful info from here before so I thought I would try and contribute and ask for help at the same time.
As the title implies, I got a voltage drain -sometimes. Usually it does not drain the battery overnight, but it has, and if it sits two days there is a good chance it will drain it. I have been living with this issue for a couple of months, and finally last week I got off my *** and decided to do some troubleshooting.
I installed a blade switch on the ground terminal, and disabled the passenger side door closed switch so I could get to the fuse box.
So for a couple of days I got no leakage -reading 20mA or so. Then last Wednesday -400mA after more than an hour of sitting, computer should be off for sure.
I start plucking fuses, while the wife checks the DVM. First fuse I try is the radio -it is fine. Then I start going through the fuses starting at number 1. On fuse 5, the DVM does not drop when I pull it but jumps up to 800mA when I put it back in. According to the owners manual this is the fuse for " Keypad illumination, 3rd row seat enable, Brake Shift Interlock (BSI), SPDJB" After a bit it drops back down to .4A and we continue on. I also get the same reaction from another fuse, but I can't recall which one right now, but it was around 23. I check all of the fuses even the ones under the hood and I never see the voltage drop to zero on the DVM after unplugging a fuse. I also pulled all the relays under the hood as well -nothing. By now though, I suspect I have awoken the computer the DVM has dropped to 300mA from the original 400mA.
We go back inside, and I come out about an hour later and check, it is still 300mA. I disconnect the positive terminal to the alternator and boom, I get 0 volts. So this past Saturday, I replace the alternator with a new one. The truck has sat for a couple of days so it won't start. I put the charger on and go inside for a shower, come back out and realize I just cooked my battery. I had the charger set to 50Amp
I put a fresh battery in and check it the next couple of days and all is well. Just as I start feeling pretty good about things...400mA again
I did not troubleshoot it then as I had family stuff to do, I just opened my blade switch so I would have full charge the next day.
My current guess is it might be starter.
Kelvin
As the title implies, I got a voltage drain -sometimes. Usually it does not drain the battery overnight, but it has, and if it sits two days there is a good chance it will drain it. I have been living with this issue for a couple of months, and finally last week I got off my *** and decided to do some troubleshooting.
I installed a blade switch on the ground terminal, and disabled the passenger side door closed switch so I could get to the fuse box.
So for a couple of days I got no leakage -reading 20mA or so. Then last Wednesday -400mA after more than an hour of sitting, computer should be off for sure.
I start plucking fuses, while the wife checks the DVM. First fuse I try is the radio -it is fine. Then I start going through the fuses starting at number 1. On fuse 5, the DVM does not drop when I pull it but jumps up to 800mA when I put it back in. According to the owners manual this is the fuse for " Keypad illumination, 3rd row seat enable, Brake Shift Interlock (BSI), SPDJB" After a bit it drops back down to .4A and we continue on. I also get the same reaction from another fuse, but I can't recall which one right now, but it was around 23. I check all of the fuses even the ones under the hood and I never see the voltage drop to zero on the DVM after unplugging a fuse. I also pulled all the relays under the hood as well -nothing. By now though, I suspect I have awoken the computer the DVM has dropped to 300mA from the original 400mA.
We go back inside, and I come out about an hour later and check, it is still 300mA. I disconnect the positive terminal to the alternator and boom, I get 0 volts. So this past Saturday, I replace the alternator with a new one. The truck has sat for a couple of days so it won't start. I put the charger on and go inside for a shower, come back out and realize I just cooked my battery. I had the charger set to 50Amp
I put a fresh battery in and check it the next couple of days and all is well. Just as I start feeling pretty good about things...400mA again
I did not troubleshoot it then as I had family stuff to do, I just opened my blade switch so I would have full charge the next day.
My current guess is it might be starter.
Kelvin
#3
So, today the truck has a drain, last couple of days it has been fine. It is pulling 400mA.
I disconnect the hot from the alternator, the current does not drop. I also disconnect the connector from the alternator with no drop in current.
Alternator not the problem.
Just as I am getting ready to remove the hot from the starter soleniod, my electrical engineer friend removes the lead from my DVM and reconnects is -basically disconnecting and reconnecting the battery. "...uhhh dude, I think I just reset the ECM". Anyway the current spikes to 700mA, and then drops to 400mA in less than a minute. So this makes me think maybe my drain is the ECM because I know it pulls around 400mA right after I park her and all the lights go out.
I eat lunch and go back out, now it is reading 200mA. For kicks I pull the fuse for the rear wiper -still pulling 200mA. Not ruling it out quite yet though -something may still be legitimately awake (I ate pretty quick). I am going out in another 30 minutes to check a few more things.
I disconnect the hot from the alternator, the current does not drop. I also disconnect the connector from the alternator with no drop in current.
Alternator not the problem.
Just as I am getting ready to remove the hot from the starter soleniod, my electrical engineer friend removes the lead from my DVM and reconnects is -basically disconnecting and reconnecting the battery. "...uhhh dude, I think I just reset the ECM". Anyway the current spikes to 700mA, and then drops to 400mA in less than a minute. So this makes me think maybe my drain is the ECM because I know it pulls around 400mA right after I park her and all the lights go out.
I eat lunch and go back out, now it is reading 200mA. For kicks I pull the fuse for the rear wiper -still pulling 200mA. Not ruling it out quite yet though -something may still be legitimately awake (I ate pretty quick). I am going out in another 30 minutes to check a few more things.
#4
Okay I just checked, and after 30 more minutes it is still pulling 200mA. So I started pulling fuses:
Fuse 20: Adjustable pedals, Datalink -no change
Fuse 27: Ignition Switch -no change
Fuse 29: Instument Cluster -no change
Fuse 35: rear video camera -no change
Fuse 36: PATS transceiver -no change
Fuse 37: Climate control -no change
Fuse 38: Subwoofer/Amp -no change
Fuse 39: Radio -Spike to 700mA falls to 400mA within 10 seconds and sits there. I left the fuse out, and I will check in an hour.
Fuse 20: Adjustable pedals, Datalink -no change
Fuse 27: Ignition Switch -no change
Fuse 29: Instument Cluster -no change
Fuse 35: rear video camera -no change
Fuse 36: PATS transceiver -no change
Fuse 37: Climate control -no change
Fuse 38: Subwoofer/Amp -no change
Fuse 39: Radio -Spike to 700mA falls to 400mA within 10 seconds and sits there. I left the fuse out, and I will check in an hour.
#5
Okay more than an hour, but...
with fuse 39 out the current is 200mA. So as far as I am concerned...
Fuse 39: no problem
I have to leave work, when I get home and after dinner I check and still have a 200mA draw. I check a few more fuses...
Fuse 42: Trailer tow battery charge coil -no change
Fuse 43: Rear wiper logic -no change
Fuse 45: Front wiper logic -no change
Fuse 46: Climate control, Auxiliary relay control -no change
Fuse 47: Power Windows -no change
Relay 48: Delayed Accessory Relay -no change
Fuse 32: Restraints control module -no change
Fuse 31: Compass, Automatic Dimming mirror -no change
Fuse 29: Instrument Panel Cluster -no change
Fuse 28: Radio -no change
Fuse 26: Instrument Panel Cluster -no change
Fuse 25: Demand lamps, Glovebox, Visor -no change
Fuse 24: Horn relay -no change
Fuse 23: High Beams -no change
Fuse 22: Park lamps relay -no change
Fuse 21: Fog lamps -no change
Fuse 17: Liftgate -no change
Fuse 25: Climate Control no change on fuse removal. When I put the fuse back current spikes to 900mA and then drops to 400mA in a few seconds. Need to wait until ECU rests...
with fuse 39 out the current is 200mA. So as far as I am concerned...
Fuse 39: no problem
I have to leave work, when I get home and after dinner I check and still have a 200mA draw. I check a few more fuses...
Fuse 42: Trailer tow battery charge coil -no change
Fuse 43: Rear wiper logic -no change
Fuse 45: Front wiper logic -no change
Fuse 46: Climate control, Auxiliary relay control -no change
Fuse 47: Power Windows -no change
Relay 48: Delayed Accessory Relay -no change
Fuse 32: Restraints control module -no change
Fuse 31: Compass, Automatic Dimming mirror -no change
Fuse 29: Instrument Panel Cluster -no change
Fuse 28: Radio -no change
Fuse 26: Instrument Panel Cluster -no change
Fuse 25: Demand lamps, Glovebox, Visor -no change
Fuse 24: Horn relay -no change
Fuse 23: High Beams -no change
Fuse 22: Park lamps relay -no change
Fuse 21: Fog lamps -no change
Fuse 17: Liftgate -no change
Fuse 25: Climate Control no change on fuse removal. When I put the fuse back current spikes to 900mA and then drops to 400mA in a few seconds. Need to wait until ECU rests...
#6
Okay back down to a 200mA draw. I check fuses 1 through 14 in the passenger fuse panel, skip 5, because it is the drivers keypad, and I didn't want to wake up the computer again. I also skip 11 and 13 because they are spares.
I move on to the engine compartment fuse block...
relay 1: -no change
relay 3: -no change
fuse 4: -no change
fuse 5: -no change
fuse 6: DROPS TO 30mA!!!
Fuse 6 description is ABS (valves). Okay, now I am gonna have to do some research on this.
I move on to the engine compartment fuse block...
relay 1: -no change
relay 3: -no change
fuse 4: -no change
fuse 5: -no change
fuse 6: DROPS TO 30mA!!!
Fuse 6 description is ABS (valves). Okay, now I am gonna have to do some research on this.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
jasindude1
1978 - 1996 Big Bronco
37
02-25-2017 09:23 AM
dtfanning
Escape & Escape Hybrid
5
04-01-2016 11:24 AM