Problem with Dieing Battery
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 141
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From: North East
Problem with Dieing Battery
I have this odd problem, My battery dies after about 3 to 4 days of no use. I have checked the alternator and it is charging fine, and the battery was new as of 4 months ago. I hooked an AMP meter inline with the battery and it is drawing 327ma or .327 amp. This would be approxamatly the draw of a dome light, but I have searched every inch of the truck and found no lights on anywhere. I have checked my grounds and everything I could think of that would be a draw and found nothing. I even removed the under hood lamp for feer that the level switch was shot. 
Any thoughts on what this might be? If I drive it every day, it never seems to be an issue, but if I leave it sit (Only use it on occation in the summer) it's dead when I go to start it. This has been nothing but a pain in my butt for some time.
Any thoughts on what this might be? If I drive it every day, it never seems to be an issue, but if I leave it sit (Only use it on occation in the summer) it's dead when I go to start it. This has been nothing but a pain in my butt for some time.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 354
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From: Irving Texas
You have.
I always carry one of those portably battery chargers in my truck now.
Sounds like the same problem.
You have a drain but where?
You could install a quick disconnect from the battery into the cab.
So when you leave you flip the switch.
Do not install the + side to the quick disconnect, do it to the negative side.
So if something ever rubs through the cable then you only ground the ground
(NO BIG DEAL) I do this to all my switches also.
Pretty good way to ensure no one steals your truck and of course if you drag race to work and stuff it is required.
Sounds like the same problem.
You have a drain but where?
You could install a quick disconnect from the battery into the cab.
So when you leave you flip the switch.
Do not install the + side to the quick disconnect, do it to the negative side.
So if something ever rubs through the cable then you only ground the ground
(NO BIG DEAL) I do this to all my switches also.
Pretty good way to ensure no one steals your truck and of course if you drag race to work and stuff it is required.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,372
Likes: 14
From: West Cornwall, CT
To check for a battery drain, I'd hook up the ammeter in series with the battery (like you did before) and pull fuses one at a time from the distrubution boxed under the dash and under the hood.
With luck, you will find the circuit that is drawing that current and then you can troubleshoot just that one circuit.
If the current draw still exists, then disconnect the alternator to see if it is acting as a load when it is not turning.
Lou Braun
With luck, you will find the circuit that is drawing that current and then you can troubleshoot just that one circuit.
If the current draw still exists, then disconnect the alternator to see if it is acting as a load when it is not turning.
Lou Braun
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 141
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From: North East
Originally Posted by Lou Braun
To check for a battery drain, I'd hook up the ammeter in series with the battery (like you did before) and pull fuses one at a time from the distrubution boxed under the dash and under the hood.
With luck, you will find the circuit that is drawing that current and then you can troubleshoot just that one circuit.
If the current draw still exists, then disconnect the alternator to see if it is acting as a load when it is not turning.
Lou Braun
With luck, you will find the circuit that is drawing that current and then you can troubleshoot just that one circuit.
If the current draw still exists, then disconnect the alternator to see if it is acting as a load when it is not turning.
Lou Braun
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: south dakota
have your alternater tested. also your starter. if your starter is going bad it might suck all the juice from your bat. causing a deep drain every time you started it. this could kill a auto bat fairly quickly.
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 772
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From: Glen Burnie Maryland
Sounds like one or more of the diodes (there are 6) in the rectifier pack went bad and is allowing a current draw thru the alternator STATOR WINDINGS. Check the temp of the alternator first thing in the morning before you start it up. If the alternator casing is warm, then you have a bad diode.
It's real hard to check as you have to tear down the alternator and test each one once you have it apart.
Have a generator shop check the alternator. They can tell you what's wrong with it, and if you feel inclined to, sell you the parts you need (rectifier, Brushes, voltage regulator, heat sink grease) to overhaul it.
Larry
It's real hard to check as you have to tear down the alternator and test each one once you have it apart.
Have a generator shop check the alternator. They can tell you what's wrong with it, and if you feel inclined to, sell you the parts you need (rectifier, Brushes, voltage regulator, heat sink grease) to overhaul it.
Larry
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Midwest
Do the same thing with the multimeter but pull the relays. A bad relay will drain a battery. I was thinking maybe your eec relay but they usually drain the battery in hours not days.
T. Roberts
UFD Local 1147
T. Roberts
UFD Local 1147
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