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90 7.3 idi electric hell

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Old Jun 28, 2009 | 07:54 PM
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Question 90 7.3 idi electric hell

help! tracking down a power draw that drains batteries overnight- so i hook up batt charger every night. checked all fuses. disconnected alternator, starter, check draw with test light btw neg batt post and disconnected cable. finally started on the power leads coming off the starter solenoid. one wire, blck w orange stripe, when disconnected stopped the draw. it powered the pcm. replaced it. draw still lives! back to the starter solenoid, now the same wire when disconnected show a dim glo on test light. thick yellow wire, powers the ignition circuit, is carrying the draw. don't know what to do next?!? thanks in advance
been told to replace regulator in alternator...???
 
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Old Jun 28, 2009 | 11:30 PM
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troub,
Welcome to FTE and the IDI diesel forum.

Black and orange goes to the alternator battery terminal.
Also shows a tie in to the glow plug controller and the TECA power relay.

Yellow powers the ignition switch and fuse #1.

Disconnect the black and orange wire from the output terminal on the alternator and see if that stops the draw.
If it does, either the diode pack or internal regulator may be at fault.

TECA I think is E4OD related.

Fuse #1 is hazzard flasher and stop light switch.

Trailer brake controller by any chance?
 
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Old Jun 29, 2009 | 09:08 AM
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Question 7.3 idi electric H

thanks for supporting a rookie- what does the TECA relay look like? where is it?
another clue?- in the am after 'draw' wires disconnected overnight, (black and orange and thick yellow) tuck is hard to start - with full batteries- 3 times 20 seconds each with the starter before it fires.....thanks
 
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Old Jun 29, 2009 | 11:29 AM
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barely started this am

not crank and crank with no fire- just barely turned over- with full balleteries..
ignition switch/module?
 
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Old Jun 29, 2009 | 09:52 PM
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Inspect the passenger side positve battery cable clamp.

Is the insulation near the clamp brittle and/or discolored?

Corrosion inside the clamp where the wires crimp in is a rather common problem.
When you have this problem, the clamp and cable gets hot when you try to start the engine.

That clamp is also where the wire from the alternator is tied into the battery system.
So if there is corrosion in the clamp, even though the alternator is charging, the charge may not be reaching the batteries.

A battery voltage test would pick up on that.

A replacement cable is the only cure if that is your problem.

Can't help on the TECA, I only do manual trannies.
 
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Old Jun 30, 2009 | 05:47 AM
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Originally Posted by troub
not crank and crank with no fire- just barely turned over- with full balleteries..
ignition switch/module?
That sounds like a bad starter to me. Starter can also drain the batteries overnight.
 
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Old Jun 30, 2009 | 09:27 AM
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solved

IGNITION SWITCH! installed yesterday. waited til this am to c if batts dropped- nope- thanks to all for your support.
 
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Old Jun 30, 2009 | 07:57 PM
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So it must have been leaving either the acc or the ignition circuit powered when you thought the key was off.

Thanks for the report on what fixed it.
 
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