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94 Olds 88 parasitic drain! Finding short! (fixed)

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Old 06-13-2011, 12:27 PM
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Default 94 Olds 88 parasitic drain! Finding short! (fixed)

I have a 94 Olds 88 that I had replaced alternator, battery and checked starter and battery was going dead after a couple of days. The positive connection on battery was also getting very hot. I went on Youtube and found out how to find the circuit that the short is on using a 1ohm/10watt resistor. Then using a homemade short circuit detector described in these videos. I found that under the hood that it was a 60 amp fuse which was labeled power door locks, trunk release, and horn is where the parasitic draw was coming from. I then began using the short circuit detector that I made per the video to try to find the area. I began unplugging the power door lock connectors, trunk release connections, horn connectors and shaking all the wires I could in the area and never got my buzzer/short circuit detector to quit or go in and out. I then found there was another fuse box under the passenger side dash on the kick panel. I saw there was more fuses 1. Door Locks, 2. Power Antenna, Lock Switch, Trunk Release. I pulled #2 and my buzzer went off. So this means the issue is between this fuse box and the wires going to engine bay fuse panel correct as by unplugging the connections would've broken the path and caused buzzer to stop correct? Also: what is the difference between 1. Door Locks and 2. Lock Switch?
Old 06-13-2011, 12:41 PM
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Here is the video if you would like to see what I am referring to. Might make more sense.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTECmj78ZOU
Old 06-13-2011, 01:21 PM
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The short is after the fuse under the dash. Otherwise the short would still be there after you pull the fuse.
Old 06-13-2011, 02:16 PM
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So what would you recommend? Put the tester device in that fuse slot and do the plug/unplug method again?
Old 06-13-2011, 02:18 PM
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Time to start tracing wires. Look for any relays along the way. I've seen a few relays drain a battery but still test as OK.
Old 06-13-2011, 02:27 PM
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There are some relays on that fuse panel. Can I use the tester as described above to help narrow it down. If I plug it into that fuse panel and plug and unplug and move wires around it should cut in and out correct? I appreciate the input.
Old 06-13-2011, 02:29 PM
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I've looked online for a schematic but can't find one. I don't want to buy a book for it as I have the car for sale but ain't going to sell it the way it is until I fix the problem.
Old 06-13-2011, 02:45 PM
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Sorry, I don't have one for that year either.
Old 06-13-2011, 03:12 PM
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Well I just went out and plugged the short circuit tester into the fuse panel under the passenger dash and replugged the connectors and expected the buzzer but I am getting nothing. I inserted fuse and retested under the hood and buzzer goes off. Stumped as to why the buzzer isn't going off when inserted under dash?
Old 06-13-2011, 03:15 PM
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Take off the fuse box and look under it. As I said, you need to test each wire.


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