Battery drain issue
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4wd Low
Joined: Oct 2022
Posts: 11
Likes: 1
From: Pulaski,TN
Battery drain issue
Afternoon boys, I’ve been working on a new to me 85 F350 6.9idi 4x4 4-speed manual. Had a whole lot of wiring issues I’ve taken care of already. Thought everything was good but now I’m having a battery drain issue. Noticed today that my voltage regulator is warm to the touch,with batteries connected. I had been disconnecting batteries until I got wiring issues fixed. Came out this morning to dead batteries. Alternater has been tested good and regulator is new. Anyone have any ideas on this?
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 3,928
Likes: 1,199
From: Mojave, Ca
Just because the regulator is new doesnt mean its good. Was it from Autozone?
Normal key off draw is <100 mA. That keeps the radio and clock happy. You should remove the positive (or negative, it doesnt matter) battery cable off and place a amp-meter between the cable and the battery. This will tell you what your parasitic amp draw is and you can monitor it in real time. While it connected, start pulling fuses and disconnecting suspected items. When the amp meter drops to something more reasonable, you've found your parasitic draw. Happy hunting.
Normal key off draw is <100 mA. That keeps the radio and clock happy. You should remove the positive (or negative, it doesnt matter) battery cable off and place a amp-meter between the cable and the battery. This will tell you what your parasitic amp draw is and you can monitor it in real time. While it connected, start pulling fuses and disconnecting suspected items. When the amp meter drops to something more reasonable, you've found your parasitic draw. Happy hunting.
Thread Starter
|
4wd Low
Joined: Oct 2022
Posts: 11
Likes: 1
From: Pulaski,TN
Just because the regulator is new doesnt mean its good. Was it from Autozone?
Normal key off draw is <100 mA. That keeps the radio and clock happy. You should remove the positive (or negative, it doesnt matter) battery cable off and place a amp-meter between the cable and the battery. This will tell you what your parasitic amp draw is and you can monitor it in real time. While it connected, start pulling fuses and disconnecting suspected items. When the amp meter drops to something more reasonable, you've found your parasitic draw. Happy hunting.
Normal key off draw is <100 mA. That keeps the radio and clock happy. You should remove the positive (or negative, it doesnt matter) battery cable off and place a amp-meter between the cable and the battery. This will tell you what your parasitic amp draw is and you can monitor it in real time. While it connected, start pulling fuses and disconnecting suspected items. When the amp meter drops to something more reasonable, you've found your parasitic draw. Happy hunting.
Last edited by mk-F350; Oct 7, 2022 at 04:20 PM.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 3,928
Likes: 1,199
From: Mojave, Ca
The alternator B+ lead always has 12volts attached to it. If a diode is bad, it'll draw current through the bad diode and warm up. The alternator tester can usually find this problem, thou.
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4wd Low
Joined: Oct 2022
Posts: 11
Likes: 1
From: Pulaski,TN
Do you mean the alternator will warm up or the does it make the regulator warm up. This was happening while just sitting also.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 3,928
Likes: 1,199
From: Mojave, Ca
The regulator is bolted to the alternator... so technically, the regulator is warming up.
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,562
Likes: 5,600
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
built in regulator is a newer vehicle feature.
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4wd Low
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