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-   -   Mystery Voltage Draw (http://zr1.net/forum/showthread.php?t=25396)

Bob Eyres 07-23-2015 01:25 PM
Mystery Voltage Draw
 
We are trying to cure a long time problem with my ZR-1.
I find that if I don't keep a battery minder, or low voltage charger, on the car it will draw a fresh battery dead in 3-4 days.

I've got a friend with a voltage tester, and he says it's got about a 3 amp draw on the battery at rest with nothing turned on.
That seems like a lot. In fact it should be about what?... a half amp if nothing's wrong?
We don't have the ZR-1 electrical manual to refer to. So I'm wondering if you guys have run into this problem in the past, and what was the solution.

I know it could be a number of different things, but I'm trying to find the most common solutions, to narrow down the search.

TIA

GOLDCYLON 07-23-2015 01:57 PM
Re: Mystery Voltage Draw
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Eyres (Post 229670)
We are trying to cure a long time problem with my ZR-1.
I find that if I don't keep a battery minder, or low voltage charger, on the car it will draw a fresh battery dead in 3-4 days.

I've got a friend with a voltage tester, and he says it's got about a 3 amp draw on the battery at rest with nothing turned on.
That seems like a lot. In fact it should be about what?... a half amp if nothing's wrong?
We don't have the ZR-1 electrical manual to refer to. So I'm wondering if you guys have run into this problem in the past, and what was the solution.

I know it could be a number of different things, but I'm trying to find the most common solutions, to narrow down the search.

TIA
Do you have a side and top post battery ?

Make sure your mirror lights are off.... the ones in the sunvisors.

Jagdpanzer 07-23-2015 03:51 PM
Re: Mystery Voltage Draw
 
Should be less than 20 milliamps with eveything off, key removed so CCM goes fully asleep. With this small amount of drain a good battery should last for weeks.

WVZR-1 07-23-2015 06:46 PM
Re: Mystery Voltage Draw
 
What year is the car? I believe the newer cars with the under-hood fuse boxes are likely much easier to trouble shoot. Is there any added accessories? After-market radio or alarm etc.

Eliminate the most likely by removing the connector to the H/L module and disconnect the H/L motors AFTER you've walked around the car with the doors closed and the lights out in the garage, if it's an earlier year check the spare tire light.

secondchance 07-23-2015 07:54 PM
Re: Mystery Voltage Draw
 
I had a similar situation with battery going flat in a day or two. In my case it turned out to be HVAC fan controller gone bad. Even with the ignition turned off the controller was running the fan at very low speed. Not saying your cause would be the same but worth checking out.

Marc Haibeck 07-24-2015 02:56 AM
Re: Mystery Voltage Draw
 
I encountered a car that drew about 60 ma all of the time. It would drain the battery in about two weeks. The current draw was on the ABS power line. I eventually found a LoJack system, including a back-up battery for the LoJack, under the black panel under the rear of the hatch glass.

Bob Eyres 07-24-2015 08:52 AM
Re: Mystery Voltage Draw
 
Thanks guys, I'll check this stuff out. The car is a 91' with no non-stock electrical accessories, Lo-Jack etc.
We thought it might be the headlight motors, but after replacing the gears and re-assembling, it's still pulling 3A. I'll let you know how it shakes out, and if anyone has other ideas, feel free to post.
Thanks.

Bob Eyres 07-24-2015 09:15 AM
Re: Mystery Voltage Draw
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by GOLDCYLON (Post 229671)
Do you have a side and top post battery ?

Make sure your mirror lights are off.... the ones in the sunvisors.
Nope, Delco side post only. I'll check those visors. That would be an easy fix :thumbsup: thanks

-=Jeff=- 07-24-2015 09:38 AM
Re: Mystery Voltage Draw
 
My buddy had a similar issue with a 1992 Thunderbird

We used a DMM set for current and connected in series on the positive post to the positive cable.

Then we started pulling fuses and watched the current looking for the drop off.


If you had the FSM you could narrow it down further by just looking for the 'always' hot connections..

Maybe check the door chime module? I think I have heard that causing issues ( just don't remember where I heard that)

GOLDCYLON 07-24-2015 10:05 AM
Re: Mystery Voltage Draw
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Eyres (Post 229718)
Nope, Delco side post only. I'll check those visors. That would be an easy fix :thumbsup: thanks
Bob don't forget pull it into a dark garage to make sure all the lights are off as WV suggested. You might have a duff door switch or rear hatch switch leaving the lights on including the spare tire light as well. GC


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