Electrical drainage?
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 23,174
Likes: 1,678
From: Stephensville WI
Hello brickin70 and welcome to FTE.
I would start by having the batteries load tested. A bad battery will "die" after sitting a few days, especially in colder weather. One bad battery will drag down the other if you have two (which you do).
If the batteries check out good, then you need to look at your charging system next. Are the batteries getting a full charge from your alternator, or alternators if you have 2. Are your cables in good shape? Are the battery terminals clean and free of rust an corrosion?
If it all checks out OK then you need to find a clamp-on amp meter. Put it on your positive lead and measure the current draw with the engine off. If there is more than about 250 milliamps, you have some sort of parasitic load. Start pulling the fuses, one at a time, until you see the load drop. Find out hat that fuse does and you will have a good start at solving the issue.
I would start by having the batteries load tested. A bad battery will "die" after sitting a few days, especially in colder weather. One bad battery will drag down the other if you have two (which you do).
If the batteries check out good, then you need to look at your charging system next. Are the batteries getting a full charge from your alternator, or alternators if you have 2. Are your cables in good shape? Are the battery terminals clean and free of rust an corrosion?
If it all checks out OK then you need to find a clamp-on amp meter. Put it on your positive lead and measure the current draw with the engine off. If there is more than about 250 milliamps, you have some sort of parasitic load. Start pulling the fuses, one at a time, until you see the load drop. Find out hat that fuse does and you will have a good start at solving the issue.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 2,333
Likes: 35
From: South Carolina
+1 on what redford said.
Lots of auto parts stores will load test the batteries. I would hook 'em to a bench charger first, so they are fully charged when you go to the store. You may want to pull the ground lead off each battery while charging to ensure all the juice goes to the batteries.
Lots of auto parts stores will load test the batteries. I would hook 'em to a bench charger first, so they are fully charged when you go to the store. You may want to pull the ground lead off each battery while charging to ensure all the juice goes to the batteries.
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