Battery draining
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Freshman User
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Battery draining
My battery keeps draining after the truck is shut off. I have changed batteries thinking the battery was bad but this was not the problem. I assume the turn signals and wipers would work if the ignition was not being turned off which isnt happening. I aslo checked to see if any lights (interior and exterior) were being left on but none were found. I cant think of anything else that could cause it to drain and could please use some help.
New User
Joined: Jan 2008
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A Diode gone bad in the alternator.
A Faulty Voltage Regulator.
A short in the dome light door switch
There is a "how to detect a short" article on my web site if you need it.
A Faulty Voltage Regulator.
A short in the dome light door switch
There is a "how to detect a short" article on my web site if you need it.
Last edited by Mil1ion; Sep 5, 2006 at 07:20 PM.
Postmaster
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You could also have a short somewhere.
Buy a little test light, hook it up between the negative post of the battery and the negative terminal. You'll need to remove it from the post.
If it glows, something is causing the drain. If it doesn't glow, all is good except maybe the battery has a bad cell or something. You can pull fuses one at a time until the light goes out. You could also disconnect the positive wire going to the alternator. If the light goes out, bad alternator.
Buy a little test light, hook it up between the negative post of the battery and the negative terminal. You'll need to remove it from the post.
If it glows, something is causing the drain. If it doesn't glow, all is good except maybe the battery has a bad cell or something. You can pull fuses one at a time until the light goes out. You could also disconnect the positive wire going to the alternator. If the light goes out, bad alternator.
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Joined: May 2004
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From: Edwards Air Force Base
Originally Posted by srercrcr
You could also have a short somewhere.
Buy a little test light, hook it up between the negative post of the battery and the negative terminal. You'll need to remove it from the post.
If it glows, something is causing the drain. If it doesn't glow, all is good except maybe the battery has a bad cell or something. You can pull fuses one at a time until the light goes out. You could also disconnect the positive wire going to the alternator. If the light goes out, bad alternator.
Buy a little test light, hook it up between the negative post of the battery and the negative terminal. You'll need to remove it from the post.
If it glows, something is causing the drain. If it doesn't glow, all is good except maybe the battery has a bad cell or something. You can pull fuses one at a time until the light goes out. You could also disconnect the positive wire going to the alternator. If the light goes out, bad alternator.
I wonder if he has an after market stereo amp? Those are known for not turning off correctly sometimes and will drain power fast.
Also a glove box light might go unnoticed.
Trailer hookup could be shorted as well pulling voltage for trailer lights but no lights to be seen?
Just some ideas.
Lee
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Yes you will see a dim light from the computer and the clock, pull the fuses for those
and then test. If you have a light then pull the heavy lead off the alternator if it goes out you have a leaking diode. That would be the way I'd start looking.
and then test. If you have a light then pull the heavy lead off the alternator if it goes out you have a leaking diode. That would be the way I'd start looking.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: State College, PA
my dads 97 has the same problem..he bought a new battery for it and still it would go dead...the alternator wasnt the problem either had that tested. Someone said it might be a sensor somewhere doing it...my dad never found the problem and I think he gave up.
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I recently had a problem with my tail lights and found the plug in near the rear bumper had a bad ground. I cutt the plug off and direct wired it. I am now thinking that this is the problem. Hopefully its just a short but thought I did a good job butt splicing the wires. Is there anyway it would drain the battery if there was no short just by bypassing the plug?
