Parasitic battery drain head ache!!!

scott_co65 · 11-01-2009, 05:17 PM

Got a 1985 yota pickup 22r with a confirmed case of parasitic drain. Well just followed advice given by others here a yotatech and performed a Amperage test at the battery while pulling fuses. Funny thing is none of the fuses dropped the amps but what did was a wire harness in the underhood fuse box. Anyone got an idea what is feeding these wires. It is the wire harness with black clip closest to the 30A and 60A fuses. The following wires are connected in this clip: red w/ green stripe, red w/ yellow stripe, black w/ yellow stripe, and plain white. All i know is the amps are near 464 with every thing off, when i unplug this it drops to the teens. So this is really a huge draw on my battery. Any ideas? Really want to fix this thing right but it looks like im headed to the auto parts to get a battery kill switch if i can't.

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1989toy4wd · 11-01-2009, 05:25 PM

How fast does it drain down, like overnight or over a few days! that .474amps right? And are you checking it after the truck sits for about 10 minutes while keeping the cable connected to the battery and the ammeter. You know dont disconnect the battery then put the ammeter on it, disconnect it while the ammeter is connected.

scott_co65 · 11-01-2009, 06:45 PM

Drains down overnight and sometimes even less. Checked it about 15 mins after the truck was cut off. Didn't know i had to connect the ammeter before a took the cable loose. Thanks, i'll try that. Still anyone know about those wires?

4Crawler · 11-01-2009, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scott_co65

Got a 1985 yota pickup 22r with a confirmed case of parasitic drain. Well just followed advice given by others here a yotatech and performed a Amperage test at the battery while pulling fuses. Funny thing is none of the fuses dropped the amps but what did was a wire harness in the underhood fuse box. Anyone got an idea what is feeding these wires. It is the wire harness with black clip closest to the 30A and 60A fuses. The following wires are connected in this clip: red w/ green stripe, red w/ yellow stripe, black w/ yellow stripe, and plain white. All i know is the amps are near 464 with every thing off, when i unplug this it drops to the teens. So this is really a huge draw on my battery. Any ideas? Really want to fix this thing right but it looks like im headed to the auto parts to get a battery kill switch if i can't.

Might dig into the wiring diagram from the '85 Factory Service Manual. Sounds like it could be the main alternator wire. If so, could be a shorted diode in the alternator itself, you could pull it and have it tested.

86tuning · 11-02-2009, 03:49 PM

large plain white wire is probably the alternator B+ (main) wire. If it is, then remove the alternator for testing. Er, what 4crawler said.

To connect the ammeter to the car, wait 2 minutes before unplugging stuff because the car's systems will draw more current when the battery is hooked up. Once everything settles down, do your tests.

rangerruck · 11-06-2009, 07:13 AM

I had a similar prob , ina diff type car for about 3 years; couldn't figure it out, but if I didn't start the car at least a couple of times a week, car would die.
finally took it to my mech's to figure it out; one morning, while still dark, they had worked on if for a few days allready and could not figure it out- one early morning one of his mechs' walks in, my car is inside the garage, and it is very dark in there still. He walks over to the car, and notices, " something looks like it is on in there!" He turns off every available light in the garage and office, and looks back in the car.
Opens the passenger door, looks inside the glove compartment; The glove compartment light is on!!!! how sick is that??? He disconnects the light bulb-
problem solved! Switch on door of glove compartment had gone bad...

Gnarly4X · 11-06-2009, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 86tuning

large plain white wire is probably the alternator B+ (main) wire. If it is, then remove the alternator for testing. Er, what 4crawler said.

To connect the ammeter to the car, wait 2 minutes before unplugging stuff because the car's systems will draw more current when the battery is hooked up. Once everything settles down, do your tests.

You don't have to remove the alternator, just remove the fat wire.

gNARLS.

**aviator** · 11-06-2009, 02:48 PM

Having a similar problem if i drive in the wet and don't start again for a few days...
Batt. shop thinks it might be shorting through the damp on top of the batt.
But i'm going to try the alt cable too... these wires are getting old now...

86tuning · 11-06-2009, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gnarly4X

You don't have to remove the alternator, just remove the fat wire.

gNARLS.

If it is the white wire {that's causing the draw} then remove the alternator for testing.

11-01-2009, 05:25 PM	#2 (permalink)
1989toy4wd Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Beaumont, Tx Posts: 949	How fast does it drain down, like overnight or over a few days! that .474amps right? And are you checking it after the truck sits for about 10 minutes while keeping the cable connected to the battery and the ammeter. You know dont disconnect the battery then put the ammeter on it, disconnect it while the ammeter is connected. __________________ -Colton- 1989 Toyota Pickup DLX, 22RE, 5-spd, 5-in SAS, Detroit back, ARB front, longs, 37/13R15 Boggers, Marlin front and rear bumpers, Marlin sliders, Ramsey Patriot 9500 winch with synthetic line, Hi-angle D/S F&R, diff breathers, rebuilt tranny, 22RE bored .20 over completely rebuilt (it feels great to not have to buy 2 cases of oil a month!!), whole truck built in memory of my dad (RIP 6-26-08) Daily driver & tow vehicle: 02 Dodge 2500 Diesel, 5-speed, 4wd, quad cab, longbed, 128k miles

11-02-2009, 03:49 PM	#5 (permalink)
86tuning Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 717	large plain white wire is probably the alternator B+ (main) wire. If it is, then remove the alternator for testing. Er, what 4crawler said. To connect the ammeter to the car, wait 2 minutes before unplugging stuff because the car's systems will draw more current when the battery is hooked up. Once everything settles down, do your tests. __________________ - Brian 84 toy pickup mostly stock

11-06-2009, 02:48 PM	#8 (permalink)
aviator Super Moderator Staff Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: COTKU,Ontario,Canada Posts: 7,469	Having a similar problem if i drive in the wet and don't start again for a few days... Batt. shop thinks it might be shorting through the damp on top of the batt. But i'm going to try the alt cable too... these wires are getting old now... __________________ Silver 1994 Hilux Xtra cab 4x4 3.0 K&N cone filter, ported MAF, advanced timing, oversize exhaust, free flow cat, "rumble" muffler custom covered SR5 seats, map lights, factory AC tv4184 style black interior conversion started mods to come... header, custom centre console, stereo upgrade tinted windows Founding member 1972TLC fan club - Get well soon Mary Toyota Hilux... Get in or Get out of the way.

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11-01-2009, 06:45 PM	#3 (permalink)
scott_co65 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Buckingham, VA Posts: 17	Drains down overnight and sometimes even less. Checked it about 15 mins after the truck was cut off. Didn't know i had to connect the ammeter before a took the cable loose. Thanks, i'll try that. Still anyone know about those wires?

11-06-2009, 07:13 AM	#6 (permalink)
rangerruck Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 247	I had a similar prob , ina diff type car for about 3 years; couldn't figure it out, but if I didn't start the car at least a couple of times a week, car would die. finally took it to my mech's to figure it out; one morning, while still dark, they had worked on if for a few days allready and could not figure it out- one early morning one of his mechs' walks in, my car is inside the garage, and it is very dark in there still. He walks over to the car, and notices, " something looks like it is on in there!" He turns off every available light in the garage and office, and looks back in the car. Opens the passenger door, looks inside the glove compartment; The glove compartment light is on!!!! how sick is that??? He disconnects the light bulb- problem solved! Switch on door of glove compartment had gone bad...