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Thank’s to Eric’s video on the Parasitic Draw Test I was able to find the circuit that was killing my battery. I HOPE the problem is a bad relay but I’m not sure how to CONFIRM this or LOCATE the actual relay.
While performing the test I noticed a somewhat loud “click” every time I reconnected the battery cable. Once I found the problem circuit, and removed the fuse, the clicking sound no longer happened.
Thinking about this logically, I am worried that the cause of the problem is NOT a relay. Obviously, the clicking sound must be the relay opening and closing. If the relay was defective I would ASSUME it would be stuck open or stuck closed… so no “clicking” sound.
I’ve attached two images. One shows the fuse that was pulled (fifth fuse from the left … 10A). The other image is the legend (fuse block cover) that shows circuit #10 and a “snowflake” (I’m guessing this is the air conditioning).
Thank you, in advance, for your wisdom.
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The more I think about this, it may be the air compressor and NOT a relay. The icon on the fuse block is a snowflake. The “clicking” sound was just one semi-hard click… coming from a mid-area somewhere to the side and behind the radiator… NOT anywhere near the fuse block. The odd part is that I checked the AC for both heat and cooling and everything seems to be functioning.
here is a link for a wiring diagram.
Before you even go through the above, view your owners manual. They will have better descriptions of what that goes to. Hit the index, usually “fuses” to find the right pages. That engine bay fuse box is going to further sub-fuse box(es) inside the vehicle. Whether or not the problem circuit you think you’ve identified is one that travels further down the line I can’t say, but that should give you an idea whether or not you need to do it again and start pulling the internal fuse-box fuses(leaving the engine bay fuse box fuse alone) to narrow down the problem circuit further or not.
Pretty rare in my limited amateur experience to see something engine-bay specific cause a parasitic drain issue out of the blue.
Checked wiring diagram and found relay box (underhood fuse box) position 10 is a 10 amps. fused to AC compressor clutch via the AC compressor clutch relay. Seems like your AC compressor clutch relay is shorted. Relay pins 1 and 4 are normally open contact and pins 2 and 3 are for your coil. I have no idea where this relay can be found. Power for coil is supply via a 7.5 amps fuse in position 20 in junction block (underdash fuse box).
OK it sounds like you might be going about this the wrong way mainly because you’re making a LOT of assumptions. Disconnecting the battery is only PART of the diagnosis. You need to actually measure the parasitic draw with an ammeter to know if it’s out of spec or not. The relay you hear clicking may be normal. You can’t short cut this, get a DVOM and do the test properly and if you find a fuse for an effected circuit then get a wiring diagram and see what that fuse goes to.
Been there… done that. Found the video below AND the problem circuit. (Thanks for creating that video, by the way.) I was also able to confirm that the compressor is on that circuit. Now I’m just trying to determine if it is a relay or the compressor.
Have you tried pulling the internal fuses to see the draw drop into spec? Or verified that circuit is only going to the compressor? Have you yanked the compressor relay to test yet(might be referred in owners manual as A/C clutch relay, etc)? You can usually find one for something else that’s exactly the same size and specs, say cooling fan for instance, that you can use to put in it’s place to see if it’s still pulling current.
If the relay is being triggered, it’s either the relay or the trigger line circuit FOR the relay. Not the compressor. It can’t trigger the relay itself. As a newer car, the PCM is likely doing the final triggering once all other conditions to allow it are true. Pulling the connector for the signal wire for the low pressure switch for example, that should stop that relay from being triggered unless there’s a short.
Maybe your owners manual shows the location for the AC compressor relay in the engine bay.
You may now need a shop/service manual for assistance (E-Bay). Used bbbind.com for wiring diagram under HVAC system for your made and model. Chick on link WRMT05END117a, than link WRMT05END123a for wiring of AC compressor power and control circuit. Hope this helps.When you do find it’s location. My bets are on the compressor clutch coil, I’ve seen those short out quite often.
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