Battery Drain
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 121
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From: Ct
Battery Drain
My battery seems to die extremely fast so I tried to find what was draining it by disconnecting the negative and hooking my volt meter between the neg terminal on the battery and the negative cable. I got a full 12v no matter what I disconnected, I tried all the fuses, the alternator and the ignition(Duraspark Swap). Any Ideas?
Thanks,
Sean
85 f150 300, duraspark II, 390cfm holley etc.
Thanks,
Sean
85 f150 300, duraspark II, 390cfm holley etc.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 398
Likes: 0
From: Liverpool, NY
I know the door triggers in my Aerostar caused mine - they wouldn't contact all the way so the under dash lights would stay on. Problem stopped when I took the bulbs out. I'd trace down anything and everything from the door contacts(they do like to go bad). Just my 2 cents.
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 57,005
Likes: 2,750
From: Virginia
Hooking the voltmeter up that way will not work. The voltmeter is too sensitive, and you always have radio memories and clocks that will be connected to the battery at all times.
A testlight is usually big enough, that it will not light under normal loads from computers and other small loads. Hook it up just like you did your meter, and if it lights up bright, then you do have a drain, and you can try the fuse pulling trick and the alternator wires to try to get the light to go out.
A testlight is usually big enough, that it will not light under normal loads from computers and other small loads. Hook it up just like you did your meter, and if it lights up bright, then you do have a drain, and you can try the fuse pulling trick and the alternator wires to try to get the light to go out.
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 94
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From: Oklahoma
Look to see if your alternator light on the dash is staying on after you turn off the key. If it does, your voltage regulator is sticking and causing the drain. If the alternator light doesn't come on at all, check the bulb. On some systems, the indicator light circuit is what excites the alternator (turns it on). If your light isn't functioning, the alternator may not be functioning at all.
Something else... disconnect your battery and charge it for a couple of hours. Then test it with a load tester while still disconnected. If it falls rapidly while still unhooked, the problem is your battery. It should hold over 10 volts under load. If it falls under 10 volts under load with a fresh charge, replace it.
Something else... disconnect your battery and charge it for a couple of hours. Then test it with a load tester while still disconnected. If it falls rapidly while still unhooked, the problem is your battery. It should hold over 10 volts under load. If it falls under 10 volts under load with a fresh charge, replace it.
