Notices

have a .66amp draw

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Dec 4, 2011 | 03:32 PM
  #1  
mike L's Avatar
mike L
Thread Starter
|
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,552
Likes: 0
From: va
have a .66amp draw

I went to Autozone and had a free test done it said it had a .66a draw. Key was out, all light off, checked glove box light and trunk light to.

I removed the poss cable and waited 1 hour and tested between + cable and + post. I set my $15 digital volt meter to, red probe to 10ADC and black probe to com. Then set meter to 10A. I get a zero reading, even when turning on the dome light.
 
Reply
Old Dec 4, 2011 | 04:58 PM
  #2  
projectSHO89's Avatar
projectSHO89
Hotshot
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 19,762
Likes: 1,079
From: St Louis
A .66 A draw is pretty normal for about 30-45 minutes after the last activity. You have to wait for the battery saver to time out before making any readings. The ammeter MUST be installed before entering the delay period.

I don't see a problem with the truck in your post.

Time for a new meter...
 
Reply
Old Dec 4, 2011 | 06:45 PM
  #3  
mike L's Avatar
mike L
Thread Starter
|
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,552
Likes: 0
From: va
I got this amp reading after waited a few minutes before the test was done at Autozone. Should I have waited before having the test done, if so how long. Could the test be wrong? Battery, starter and alternator tested ok.
I got a quick amp reading from my anolog meter then it stayed at zero. Both meters still work on other settings.
The main problem was in the morning there was only 11 volts at the battery and we could tell that it started slower. After a drive it started fine, and the battery was fully charged. I there a short somewhere?
 
Reply
Old Dec 4, 2011 | 07:32 PM
  #4  
Franklin2's Avatar
Franklin2
Moderator
25 Year Member
Photogenic
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,983
Likes: 2,736
From: Virginia
Club FTE Gold Member
How did Autozone test for a amp draw? Did you watch them? You should get some sort of reading on your meter at all times. Zero is not correct.
 
Reply
Old Dec 4, 2011 | 10:45 PM
  #5  
fmc400's Avatar
fmc400
MSEE
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,386
Likes: 35
From: Austin, TX
Club FTE Gold Member
Originally Posted by mike L
I removed the poss cable and waited 1 hour and tested between + cable and + post.
Don't do this on a negative-ground vehicle. Never remove the positive cable first. If your wrench shorts against sheetmetal or a radiator support, etc when you're pulling the positive cable with the negative cable still attached, the spark can ignite fumes that normally exist around an automative battery. In some cases, the current can be enough to split the wrench in two.

Always remove the negative cable first, and re-install it last. You want to perform this test between the negative cable and the negative post, not the other way around.
 
Reply
Old Dec 5, 2011 | 06:13 AM
  #6  
mike L's Avatar
mike L
Thread Starter
|
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,552
Likes: 0
From: va
Originally Posted by Franklin2
How did Autozone test for a amp draw? Did you watch them? You should get some sort of reading on your meter at all times. Zero is not correct.
I got a print out after helping with the 3 min. test. Battery starter and alt. all test ok. Print out also said .66 draw, might be a short. I will try another meter.

thanks
 
Reply
Old Dec 5, 2011 | 06:35 AM
  #7  
projectSHO89's Avatar
projectSHO89
Hotshot
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 19,762
Likes: 1,079
From: St Louis
Again, you have a 40 minute delay before the battery saver relay kicks out. Any current reading before that is not valid if checking for unwanted current draw.

Are you having an actual problem or concern or are you just curious about the AZ test results? In other words, do not make a problem out of ordinary operations or an improperly executed test.
 
Reply
Old Dec 5, 2011 | 06:38 AM
  #8  
mike L's Avatar
mike L
Thread Starter
|
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,552
Likes: 0
From: va
bulb test

I redid the test with a small light bulb between the neg cable and neg post. The light bulb came on for a second then faded fast. Then lift ground wire and retested I get a dim light then fades fast again. Tried a third time and I got very little light which faded fast. Forth time no light.
Can't pull fuses with this kind of test, why does the bulb fade?
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

 Brett Foote
story-2

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

 Brett Foote
story-4

Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-5

Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

 Brett Foote
story-8

2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-9

10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

 Joe Kucinski
Old Dec 5, 2011 | 06:50 PM
  #9  
projectSHO89's Avatar
projectSHO89
Hotshot
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 19,762
Likes: 1,079
From: St Louis
Seriously, what part of 40 minutes, needs further explanation?

Why are you even screwing with this?
 
Reply
Old Dec 5, 2011 | 07:22 PM
  #10  
Franklin2's Avatar
Franklin2
Moderator
25 Year Member
Photogenic
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,983
Likes: 2,736
From: Virginia
Club FTE Gold Member
I am assuming you are working on the 93? Your truck was in the beginning of the complex electronics entering the trucks. There is all kinds of modules with timers, memories, etc. If this was a 60's or 70's vehicle, you would have something to wonder about. The later ones will always have a small draw, and as you are finding out, can have a large draw for a period of time before it times out. The light fading out is a hint that everything is normal. A large draw would keep the light bright.
 
Reply
Old Dec 6, 2011 | 10:00 AM
  #11  
mike L's Avatar
mike L
Thread Starter
|
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,552
Likes: 0
From: va
Originally Posted by fmc400
Don't do this on a negative-ground vehicle. Never remove the positive cable first. If your wrench shorts against sheetmetal or a radiator support, etc when you're pulling the positive cable with the negative cable still attached, the spark can ignite fumes that normally exist around an automative battery. In some cases, the current can be enough to split the wrench in two.

Always remove the negative cable first, and re-install it last. You want to perform this test between the negative cable and the negative post, not the other way around.
Update:
Sorry I did the test wrong. I charged the battery (draw drains battery over 7 days). Now I got the bulb to stay on all the time, between the neg cable and post. To stop the draw I removed the fuse for interior lighting. Remote doors, cargo light, doom light and chime don't work now. How do I test lets say the doom light, to see if there's a circuit short? Do I run a wire from the poss post the the doom light?? How do you test a relay.
 
Reply
Old Dec 6, 2011 | 06:28 PM
  #12  
Franklin2's Avatar
Franklin2
Moderator
25 Year Member
Photogenic
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,983
Likes: 2,736
From: Virginia
Club FTE Gold Member
How long are you watching the light when it's bright and you are doing the test?
 
Reply
Old Dec 7, 2011 | 12:08 AM
  #13  
mike L's Avatar
mike L
Thread Starter
|
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,552
Likes: 0
From: va
The bulb was only a couple of minutes before I found the right fuse.
 
Reply
Old Dec 7, 2011 | 12:22 AM
  #14  
Rebuild101's Avatar
Rebuild101
Junior User
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
Check wires under dash for mouse chewing on them
Remember 40 min for saver
 
Reply
Old Dec 7, 2011 | 02:22 PM
  #15  
mike L's Avatar
mike L
Thread Starter
|
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,552
Likes: 0
From: va
Originally Posted by Franklin2
How long are you watching the light when it's bright and you are doing the test?
I connected the bulb between the neg cable and post. Should a wait 40 minutes to see if the bulb is still on. I think the bulb will always stay on because each morning the battery is weaker by a few volts. How do I test the doom light, with the fuse out. To see if there's a circuit short? Do I run a wire from the poss post the the doom light?? How do you test a relay.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:13 PM.

story-0
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-1
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE
story-3
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

And it might be even better than that.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-18 19:26:42


VIEW MORE
story-4
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

Slideshow: Does lowering an F-150 Lobo RUIN the ride quality?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-18 19:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-5
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE
story-7
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

Slideshow: first look at the 810 hp 2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road!

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-12 12:50:07


VIEW MORE
story-8
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Everything You Need to Know about the 2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-07 17:51:06


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

Slideshow: 10 most surprising Ford truck options/features in 2026.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:17:22


VIEW MORE