Battery Drain
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: Charlotte NC
Battery Drain
HI
I have a 94 f250 and if I let it sit for more than a couple of days the battery goes dead. (new battery). If I disconnect the battery after using it is fine. My questions are: 1) Will it hurt anything if I leave the battery disconnected for up to two weeks or so ans 2) if the neg battery cable is bad could it cause the battery to drain?
Thanks for the help!
Scott
94 f20
71 f100
56 f100
I have a 94 f250 and if I let it sit for more than a couple of days the battery goes dead. (new battery). If I disconnect the battery after using it is fine. My questions are: 1) Will it hurt anything if I leave the battery disconnected for up to two weeks or so ans 2) if the neg battery cable is bad could it cause the battery to drain?
Thanks for the help!
Scott
94 f20
71 f100
56 f100
FTE Legend
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 54,035
Likes: 2,411
From: NY and VA
A bad ground cable won't cause a drain but a good idea to replace as it will effect starting. It would be nice to know what is causing the drain. Could start pulling fuses... we found a drain in the fuel system on son's 89. Just put in a switch to shut off fuel pump. (redneck anti-theft device)
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: Charlotte NC
I tried pulling fuses but nothing showed up, also while it was being worked on, the mechanic put something on it overnight and it didn't show up then either. seems to be intermittant as sometimes it will be fine and then drain down suddenly
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 7,966
Likes: 595
From: Greater Austin, Texas
I had this problem on my '91 F150, it turned out to be a bad connection on the EEC power relay. While it was sitting, the relay would disconnect and reconnect, and every time it did this, it ran the fuel pump for 2 seconds. That drained the battery in a couple of days, but it didn't always do it. What tipped me off was I started hearing the fuel pump run for 2 seconds when I would slam the driver's door or the hood. I pulled the relay and cleaned the contacts with spray cleaner, then plugged and unplugged the relay 4-5 times, and have not had a problem since. The pump doesn't run on door or hood slam anymore, either.
pedant
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 23,576
Likes: 40
From: EXTREME southwest CT
Just because your alternator is charging doesn't mean that the diode(s) haven't failed.
If it discharges with the key out, while checking for draw disconnect the alternator (easy from the solenoid) if the meter drops to milliamps you know where the problem is.
If it discharges with the key out, while checking for draw disconnect the alternator (easy from the solenoid) if the meter drops to milliamps you know where the problem is.
Junior User
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 76
Likes: 0
From: Memphis, TN
I had the same type issue a while back. Ended up being that my key cylinder had an issue. The key would come out from any position and if I pulled it out where I thought it was in the off position sometimes it was not completely off and it would drain my battery in 4 to 6 hours. Seen write ups on it here. Something about putting a light somewhere to see if there was power going through. Cheap enough to go to autozone an pick up one and put it in to see if it fixes the problem. If it does get the new one re-keyed at a locksmith and your problem is solved.
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