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Battery keeps going dead overnight.

 
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nickvlahakis nickvlahakis
New User | Posts: 1 | Joined: 12/11
Posted: 12/19/11
08:39 AM

I have a 04 ford explorer sport trac. The battery keeps going dead if I do not start it everyday. I have bought a new battery, alternator, and have replaced all belts. I took it to advanced auto parts, and they checked the battery and alternator. everything is good. when my truck is off it is pulling 1amp an hour out of the battery. There is nothing left on and nothing is plugged in. Does anyone have any idea what would cause this?  

 
waynep7122 waynep7122
Addict | Posts: 4561 | Joined: 08/09
Posted: 12/19/11
09:18 AM

pull fuses one at a time until the load drops to 0.030 amps DC..

there is a trick to this.. on OBD2 cars..   you will need a battery switch and a digital volt meter with a 15 or 20 amp DC setting..

obd2 cars have circuits that stay active for up to 6 minutes after shut down..

modify the battery disconnect switch so you can firmly hook your test leads to it..    have the battery fully charged..

run the engine..     for a minute..   shut it off..    after 6 minutes .. open the battery switch so all the current continues through the amp meter..  this keeps all the circuits powered properly.. allowing you to get to the underhood fuse box and start pulling fuses one at a time..    when the amp meter drops..  note the number of the fuse cavity..    2000 and newer wiring diagrams are fuse number specific..  and there are hundreds of pages on some cars..

there is also an under dash fuse box to work on next..

post what fuse you pulled to shed the load.. i will see if az has the diagram online..    you can also identify the circuit by the owners manual..  but i still need the fuse cavity number.. compare.. to the proper page in the owners manual..

more to come  

 
waynep7122 waynep7122
Addict | Posts: 4561 | Joined: 08/09
Posted: 12/19/11
09:22 AM

oh..this is what the battery switch looks like,,  this is the harbor freight version.. there are several similar brands available



you can also use this to shut off the power to the car at night.. so it will start in the morning..

please .. do not test by disconnecting the battery with the engine running..

digital volt meters with 15 or 20 amp DC settings start at about 15 bucks and hf has one for 20..  

 
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