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I’m trying to solve a parasitic draw condition on my explorer, (96 explorer sport 4.0 5 speed manual) almost a full amp with everything turned off, the fuse I pulled that made it drop is for the battery saver (ironic) relay and the headlamp relay.
So I have 2 questions:
1. What should be my next step now that I found the source of the draw? How would I go about repairing it?
2. After I pull that fuse, it drops to half an amp, is that about right?
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.5 amp draw is still high and can drain your battery.
Might suggest you go back and continue isolating the fused circuits.It’s possible what is still drawing .5 amps may be causing your battery saver (ironic) relay and the headlamp relay to remain powered up.
One item to note:
It takes time for the cars systems to go to “sleep”
You may want to look at how long it takes for your specific make and model to do so.[quote=”Clayhawk75″ post=155424]The battery was unhooked overnight, should I still look into that?[/quote]
I think you misunderstood my comment.
In normal operation:
Once the ignition is switched off and you exit the car.
It takes time for the systems in the car to go to “sleep”
How much time?
That depends on the manufacturer.
Could be as little as 1 minute or as high as 20 minutes or more[quote=”nightflyr” post=155432][quote=”Clayhawk75″ post=155424]The battery was unhooked overnight, should I still look into that?[/quote]
I think you misunderstood my comment.
In normal operation:
Once the ignition is switched off and you exit the car.
It takes time for the systems in the car to go to “sleep”
How much time?
That depends on the manufacturer.
Could be as little as 1 minute or as high as 20 minutes or more[/quote]
I think we’re still misunderstanding each other.
I took the battery to autozone to get it tested yesterday, and never hooked it back up. This morning when I went to do my draw testing, I only hooked up the positive terminal, never started the engine, never opened the doors, I did literally nothing but hook up the positive and start my draw testing.
With the battery being unhooked overnight, the systems should be drained, right?The electrical system would be discharged from being disconnected over night that is true.
But how your system reacts to having the battery reconnected is another thing.
I know when I disconnect my battery over night and reconnect it, you will here a series of relays active, also the alarm system goes active.
My brother has a 2001 Monte Carlo there is a warning label in the engine bay that states engine may/will start when reconnecting the battery.
Scared the crap out of me the first time I installed a new battery in his car.
So I have to assume that all the electronics are awake and active at that point.Your may or not be similar.
My suggestion would be:
1) If you have a hood switch for lights or alarm system, use some method (tape) to hold it in the position it would be as if the hood was closed, same for the door if you need to get inside.
2) Connect your battery as normal
3) Run the engine for a few minutes
4) Shut it off
5) Hook up your meter with one lead clamped to the battery cable terminal and the other clamped to the battery post.
This is to keep the battery connection when you remove the battery cable from the battery.
6) Remove the battery cable terminal from the battery, making sure the test leads remain connected7) Read the currant draw.
8) Wait anywhere from 1 – 20 minutes for the modules to go into sleep mode and see if the reading drops.Every Ford I have ever seen takes 45 minutes, yes you read that correctly, to go to full sleep mode. I’ve never dealt with one that old, but every single Ford model I’ve ever touched was 45 minutes.
I’m in agreement about Fords taking a while to settle down. My Lincoln (and another Lincoln I used to own) would always show a 700-800 Milliamps draw for 45 minutes to an hour after shutting the car off.
One of my sons owned a 2004 Lincoln Aviator and that vehicle also had a roughly 750 Ma draw for 45 or so minutes after shutdown.
That was a problem at times on an older, shaky battery and the main reason I always make sure my batteries don’t start getting sluggish on me. That 3/4 of an amp draw can run an iffy battery down fairly quickly.
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