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slow drain

Old Jan 30, 2007 | 09:34 PM
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Default slow drain

What is best way to find what is draining battery.I have a brand new battery, alt was tested as good and 6month old, .Battery would die every 2-4 days figured out bad battery and got new one .Was ok for 2 weeks now went to go to work and no start, battery dead.Boosted it up and was good for rest of the day, for tonight I disconnected battery so she will start in the morn.Read something before about using an ohm meter and pulling fuses, how do you do this.Thanks.
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Old Jan 30, 2007 | 10:40 PM
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Remove the negative battery cable & connect the meter between the cable & battery. Start with the meter on 10 amp scale. The reading will be high until the chimes stop. You'll want someone in the passenger compartment (with doors closed) who can pull fuses while you watch the meter. A normal reading will be less than 1/10 amp.

I'm going through the same thing with our 89. I've got it narrowed down to the circuit protected by the courtesy lighting fuse. I think it might be a solenoid for the seat belt retractors. For now it'* working fine just leaving the one fuse out. I'll get this resolved when it warms up a bit. BTW - it was drawing about 7/10 amp with the fuse in.
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Old Jan 30, 2007 | 11:32 PM
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Thanks Ted tomorrow I may try if I can get a helper.
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Old Jan 31, 2007 | 05:16 PM
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Easier way, Same amperage test as above, but instead of testing it at the battery, test it at the fuse. That way you skip the middle man [battery], and just test each individual fuse. If you are not operating that circuit, hopefully you won't go over 10 amps.. if you do, you just blow a fuse inside the DVM.
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Old Feb 1, 2007 | 09:03 PM
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Ok , I dont get what open source is saying.
Couple o questions Ted
Am I using the ohm reading
Is key in ignition or no, (because u mention chimes)
I have a cheap multimeter that start at 200 on ohms I never pulled any fuses but the reading was 1.0
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Old Feb 1, 2007 | 09:21 PM
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Ohm setting is for resistance. You need to measure amps (current). Most meters have a 10 amp & milliamp ranges. What brand & model meter are you using?

You don't want the keys in the car. Chimes come on when the battery is connected. They'll probably chime everytime you connect the meter between the battery & cable.
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Old Feb 2, 2007 | 09:54 AM
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i was having the same problem with my '90. found out it was the factory alarm unit.
pulled the 2 fuses by the steering colum , and everything is fine now.
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Old Feb 2, 2007 | 03:39 PM
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my alarm is already disconnected, Ill try again later Ted , make of meter im not sure its a cheapie but it works if u know how to use it.I just need to know how to use it right for this application haha
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