2003 EB Dead Battery
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Junior User
Joined: May 2003
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2003 EB Dead Battery
I have an '03 EB Expy that the battery went dead 2 weeks ago. Thinking it was just the battery (and w/o testing it - I know, I know), I replaced the battery. Unfortunately, the new battery went dead on Friday last week.
I'm not sure what's causing the power drain problem. There are no courtesy lights staying on and nothing has been added to the vehicle.
The only thing I have done is I replaced the rear wiper motor on the rear window. Before the new wiper motor = no battery problem, after the new wiper motor = dead battery. Is this just a coincidence or could there be a problem with the new motor that would cause a battery drain?
I've seen numerous posts regarding the door latches and spraying them with WD-40. I'll try this also. Just seems odd that it would occur after the new wiper motor was installed. Any other ideas?
I'm not sure what's causing the power drain problem. There are no courtesy lights staying on and nothing has been added to the vehicle.
The only thing I have done is I replaced the rear wiper motor on the rear window. Before the new wiper motor = no battery problem, after the new wiper motor = dead battery. Is this just a coincidence or could there be a problem with the new motor that would cause a battery drain?
I've seen numerous posts regarding the door latches and spraying them with WD-40. I'll try this also. Just seems odd that it would occur after the new wiper motor was installed. Any other ideas?
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 878
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From: Cornelius, Oregon
It maybe that when you replaced the wiper motor you didn't get the wiper on in the right spot and when the arm trys to go back to "park" it hits the bracket before it actually gets there. So it is continually trying to get back to park and pulling power from the battery.
Although now that I think about it, I don't think the rear wiper is energized with the key off, so that shouldn't be causing any draw. Try disconnecting your battery and hooking up an ammeter to see if you are actually get a draw with the key off.
if you are, the next thing I would try is pulling the fuse for the rear wiper and seeing if the draw goes away. If it does I'd bet money that either the wiring for the new motor is wrong, or it has some sort of short within the motor.
Although now that I think about it, I don't think the rear wiper is energized with the key off, so that shouldn't be causing any draw. Try disconnecting your battery and hooking up an ammeter to see if you are actually get a draw with the key off.
if you are, the next thing I would try is pulling the fuse for the rear wiper and seeing if the draw goes away. If it does I'd bet money that either the wiring for the new motor is wrong, or it has some sort of short within the motor.
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Originally Posted by pitrow
It maybe that when you replaced the wiper motor you didn't get the wiper on in the right spot and when the arm trys to go back to "park" it hits the bracket before it actually gets there. So it is continually trying to get back to park and pulling power from the battery.
Although now that I think about it, I don't think the rear wiper is energized with the key off, so that shouldn't be causing any draw. Try disconnecting your battery and hooking up an ammeter to see if you are actually get a draw with the key off.
if you are, the next thing I would try is pulling the fuse for the rear wiper and seeing if the draw goes away. If it does I'd bet money that either the wiring for the new motor is wrong, or it has some sort of short within the motor.
Although now that I think about it, I don't think the rear wiper is energized with the key off, so that shouldn't be causing any draw. Try disconnecting your battery and hooking up an ammeter to see if you are actually get a draw with the key off.
if you are, the next thing I would try is pulling the fuse for the rear wiper and seeing if the draw goes away. If it does I'd bet money that either the wiring for the new motor is wrong, or it has some sort of short within the motor.
Trying the fuse is a good idea. Just so I'm clear on taking the reading, do I disconnect the negative terminal, connect the red lead of the ammeter to the negative battery cable and the black to the negative battery post in order to do this? And if I get a 30mA or more reading then pull the rear wiper fuse to see if it goes away?
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 878
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From: Cornelius, Oregon
Yes, you pretty much have it. You can hook it up either between the + battery terminal and cable or the - terminal and cable, as long as it's in series, not parallel. Either way will work. As far as which lead on the ammeter goes to which, it shouldn't matter either. If you do it one way you will get a negative number, if you do it the other way you'll get a positive number. The amount of amps will be the same, the positive or negative will just show you which way the current is flowing relative to the ammeter.
Since you don't really have a baseline number for how much it should be drawing in the "off" state (remember the radio, computer, etc are all still drawing power even with the key off), I'd measure it both with and without the fuse and see if there is a measureable difference. I don't know what else is hooked to that fuse, so depending on what is there maybe some reasonable draw, but I'd think anything over 1 amp and you have a problem.
Since you don't really have a baseline number for how much it should be drawing in the "off" state (remember the radio, computer, etc are all still drawing power even with the key off), I'd measure it both with and without the fuse and see if there is a measureable difference. I don't know what else is hooked to that fuse, so depending on what is there maybe some reasonable draw, but I'd think anything over 1 amp and you have a problem.
