Notices
1997 - 2006 Expedition & Navigator 1997 - 2002 and 2003 - 2006 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator Discussion

battery drain...

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 5, 2015 | 09:47 PM
  #1  
Trelease's Avatar
Trelease
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
battery drain...

2004 expedition xlt

My battery keeps going dead, trying to figure it out...

When testing the fuses in the junction box in the kick panel with a voltmeter, are they all supposed to register volts even when the car is off, doors are shut, and everything is supposed to be shut down?

Because they all are, even the 4x4 fuse#20
 
Reply
Old Mar 6, 2015 | 05:43 AM
  #2  
alwaysfords41's Avatar
alwaysfords41
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,339
Likes: 0
The rear wiper is the usual culprit. Pull that fuse and see if it stops. Unless of course it is something that got fried when you had the battery install issue.
 
Reply
Old Mar 6, 2015 | 06:39 AM
  #3  
Trelease's Avatar
Trelease
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Yea, I thought it might be because I kept hearing an intermittent clicking coming from the back windshield wiper area,was too late last night, will confirm tonight.

I really hope it wasn't due to my "battery incident" lmao
 
Reply
Old Mar 6, 2015 | 09:03 AM
  #4  
Skauber's Avatar
Skauber
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,792
Likes: 3
Check this video on how to diagnose the rear wiper for battery draw:

 
Reply
Old Mar 6, 2015 | 09:23 AM
  #5  
Trelease's Avatar
Trelease
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Will check it out when I get home today after work, THANKS Skauber!!
 
Reply
Old Mar 6, 2015 | 10:02 AM
  #6  
alloro's Avatar
alloro
Fleet Owner
15 Year Member
Shutterbug
Liked
Loved
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 24,316
Likes: 5,127
From: 0,0,1
Club FTE Gold Member
If it's not the wiper you can narrow down the source of the draw using an amp meter. Start by disconnecting the negative battery cable and then connect one meter lead to the negative cable and the other to the negative post on the battery. Record the reading, then reconnect the battery.

Now in the fuse box pull fuses one at a time and touch the meter leads to the 2 fuse terminals in the fuse box from where you just pulled the fuse. Record the reading, replace the fuse, then move on to the next fuse and repeat the process for the other fuses. Once the readings from the fuses total up to the draw recorded at the battery cable you can stop. Start with the circuit where the biggest amp draw occurred because that's likely where the problem is.
 
Reply
Old Mar 6, 2015 | 11:28 AM
  #7  
Trelease's Avatar
Trelease
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by alloro
If it's not the wiper you can narrow down the source of the draw using an amp meter. Start by disconnecting the negative battery cable and then connect one meter lead to the negative cable and the other to the negative post on the battery. Record the reading, then reconnect the battery.

Now in the fuse box pull fuses one at a time and touch the meter leads to the 2 fuse terminals in the fuse box from where you just pulled the fuse. Record the reading, replace the fuse, then move on to the next fuse and repeat the process for the other fuses. Once the readings from the fuses total up to the draw recorded at the battery cable you can stop. Start with the circuit where the biggest amp draw occurred because that's likely where the problem is.

Thanks for the great suggestion alloro! Here is a pic of the voltmeter I have, it has amp settings, is this sufficient enough? and if so what setting do I need to put it on?


 
Reply
Old Mar 6, 2015 | 01:59 PM
  #8  
alloro's Avatar
alloro
Fleet Owner
15 Year Member
Shutterbug
Liked
Loved
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 24,316
Likes: 5,127
From: 0,0,1
Club FTE Gold Member
Start with the 10A (7:00 position) setting in case the draw is more than 1/5 of an amp (200 ma) which is the next lowest setting. Black lead into the COM and the red lead into the 10A. Start with the fuse for the wiper, as it is usually the culprit like
alwaysfords41 said earlier. You might get lucky and save yourself some time.
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

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

 Brett Foote
story-2

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

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

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

 Brett Foote
story-6

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

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

 Brett Foote
story-9

5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

 Joe Kucinski
Old Mar 6, 2015 | 02:15 PM
  #9  
Trelease's Avatar
Trelease
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by alloro
Start with the 10A (7:00 position) setting in case the draw is more than 1/5 of an amp (200 ma) which is the next lowest setting. Black lead into the COM and the red lead into the 10A. Start with the fuse for the wiper, as it is usually the culprit like
alwaysfords41 said earlier. You might get lucky and save yourself some time.

ok, will do, will let everyone know how it goes.
 
Reply
Old Mar 6, 2015 | 09:42 PM
  #10  
Skauber's Avatar
Skauber
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,792
Likes: 3
And here's a video to do the draw test on the Expy..

 
Reply
Old Mar 7, 2015 | 10:33 AM
  #11  
Trelease's Avatar
Trelease
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by Skauber
And here's a video to do the draw test on the Expy..
THANKS!!!! This makes it that much easier and less time consuming. GREATLY APPRECIATED!!
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Etzcutter
2007 - 2014 Expedition & Navigator
9
Jan 2, 2017 08:18 AM
HiZ
1997 - 2006 Expedition & Navigator
8
Nov 17, 2014 01:01 AM
Heather88
1997 - 2006 Expedition & Navigator
18
Mar 27, 2014 06:35 AM
mrslate
1997 - 2006 Expedition & Navigator
3
May 2, 2005 05:01 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:27 AM.

story-0
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

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


VIEW MORE
story-1
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-2
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-3
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-4
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-5
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-6
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-7
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
story-8
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

Slideshow: Here are the top 10 Fords coming to Mecum Indy 2026.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:49:49


VIEW MORE
story-9
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 worst Ford truck wheels of all time

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 16:49:01


VIEW MORE