How to search for parasitic draw
 

Im prety sure i have something slowly draining my battery and wanted to know the proper procedure with a multimeter on how to figure out what it is. I did my own gauge setup however i added two gauges down the line that someone else wired for me which i think is where the problem is. Can anyone give me the basic steps?

Rather than type it all out, go read this http://flashoffroad.com/electrical/B...teryDrain.html
Keep in mind that he has two batteries, but the process is the same.
If the one above is confusing to you, then here's another http://www.d-series.org/forums/audio...draw-test.html


Now, having sent you there you should know that the spec for our cars is about 50milliamps not what is quoted in either link.

Read them very carefully as you do NOT want to turn the car on when you are doing this, or have the key even in the ignition!!!!!

Be careful opening the doors with the meter hooked up as well as this could cause you to blow the fuse in the meter due to the dome and courtesy lights! :eek:

In addition, you should really check that your trunk is not ajar. This happens to quite a few people and will drain the battery almost overnight. Just open the passthrough to the trunk and make sure you trunk light isn't on. :dunno:

Didnt read the links above, but simply put.... Set up the meter in SERIES with the battery, not parallel.

See how much draw you have, then start pulling one fuse at a time. When the draw drops on the fuse you pulled you found it. Hopefully there is just one "system" on that fuse.

Then you may need to start taking some readings on individual wires for the draw. A wiring diagram is helpful.

what gauges have you added?

If you have a WBO2 gauge...they likely have the heater wired to the battery

Amp meters clamp around a wire and measure current flow through inductive pickup. While the cost more than your typical DVM, you can narrow it down to the exact wire that is drawing current.

hey come on - its the journey not the destination;)

Trying to be helpful on a Sunday...and all I get is crap ;)

Yeah.......if you have one(which I do) or you go buy one, but he's got a multimeter(of course I have one or two of these as well), so he can at least start there and then start pulling fuses or disconnecting until he finds what it is............then trace the wires.

I haven't given up on the trunk light/latch yet! :rolleyes: