Something is draining the battery 97 Mount
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Vacaville California
Something is draining the battery 97 Mount
I have a 1997 Mountianeer and all has been good until today. My wife made a trip to the store and came home for about ten miniutes and went back out to start the mountianeer and it was dead. So I had her open the hood and noticed the hood light was dim and blinking going dim then bright about every 15 seconds. So I got in the drivers seat to try to start it and noticed the speakers intermindintly hissing. So I turned off the radio, then it stoped. During all this the ignition was turned off. So I tried to start the engine and just clicking. Then I disconected the battery and checked the voltage it was a little low 12.25V so I waited about five miniutes and re conected the battery, same thing. Then Tried jump starting with another car. No change. It seemes to me something is stuck on??????? Has anyone seen anything like this. Or where should I start. Could this be tied into the stereo??? Confused?
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Joined: Dec 2000
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Try pulling fuses one at a time while having your multimeter hooked up to the battery. This will help you isolate which circuit is draining the battery. Further investigation may require a electrical troubleshooting manual.
Mason
Mason
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May be it is your alternator not charging the battery. 12.25 volt when motor is off and without loads sounds normal to me.
Even if the battery is weak, without load you would still see 12 volts. It is not accurate to check battery voltage without loads.
Check the battery voltage when the motor is running, it should be between 14 to 15 volts if the alternator is good.
Even if the battery is weak, without load you would still see 12 volts. It is not accurate to check battery voltage without loads.
Check the battery voltage when the motor is running, it should be between 14 to 15 volts if the alternator is good.
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Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Cincinnati
Think you have resisrance in the wiring and not a battery drain if a jump didn't work. If you don't own a voltmeter, the problem can only be found by chance. Put on the headlights to creater a load. Then test various points to see where the voltage drops.
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From: Vacaville California
The latest find
Tonight I re conected the battery and turned on the key, all lights were dim. I then proceded to pull fuses one by one and watch for any change. When I got to fuse #15 which is labeled (air bag/instrument cluster) I saw all the dash and dome lights get brighter, and I heard a clicking sound which was the two relays in the fuse box under the hood. I then put the fuse back in #15 and the clicking stoped. I then tried to jump stsrt the engine and it started. I let it run and used my meeter touching - to the ground on the body and + to the + on the battery it was showing 14 Volts, so to me that means it was being charged by the altranator. I think I have seen a post where it was a link between the altranator and air bags draining battery, but I cant seem to find the post. How would I test for this? Do I have to take the altranator to the parts shop and have it tested?
After letting the engine run for about 15 min I shut her down and was back to squair one. Had to give up for the night. Wish I would have tried pulling the air bag fuse again to see if it would start. Any guesess?????
After letting the engine run for about 15 min I shut her down and was back to squair one. Had to give up for the night. Wish I would have tried pulling the air bag fuse again to see if it would start. Any guesess?????
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Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Cincinnati
Nice theory, but let's pick it apart. The airbag fuse isn't blown and and it certainly isn't a very large amperage fuse either. No reason there for the lights to get brighter. What probably happened is that removing the fuse disturbed the wiring in the fuse block and made a better connection. Could be a bad connection on the high current maxi fuse. Look for signs of heating or corrosion on the fuse. The most common problem is the larger wire from distribution box to the + battery post where it connects to the terminal.
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Vacaville California
Hey everybody Thanks for all of your help. The problem has been solved. It was the battery. I finally took it down and had it checked and it showed no cca. and 11 volts. So they threw it on a charger for two hours and determined it to be bad.It was a 84 month battery that was only two years old, so 50% off on new battery. This rig seems to eat a battery every two years. Well thanks again. I guess the moral of the whole thing is keep it simple. 
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brzehentmaier
1997 - 2006 Expedition & Navigator
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Dec 23, 2011 11:11 AM
