How is parasitic drain caused by alternator diodes?
Parasitic Drain Caused by Alternator Diodes: the Battery Goes Dead… The battery goes dead if the car is not started every three days. I understand that it could be the alternator diodes. If I disconnect the alternator lead to the battery will this stop the drain?
How to fix a parasitic drain on the battery?
A failed diode in the alternator creates a closed circuit that drains your battery even when the engine is off. If you’re too busy during the workweek and can’t get to it until you’re off, some short term fixes are to disconnect the battery at night, and carry a portable jump starter in your vehicle.
What does it mean if your alternator is draining your battery?
If disconnecting the power cable from the alternator and stopped the current drain on your battery you should have seen a reading. This does not necessarily mean the alternator is bad. See below circled in yellow.
What causes battery drain in Advance Auto Parts?
While you’re under the hood (or at Advance Auto Parts), test the alternator. A failed diode in the alternator creates a closed circuit that drains your battery even when the engine is off.
A failed diode in the alternator creates a closed circuit that drains your battery even when the engine is off. If you’re too busy during the workweek and can’t get to it until you’re off, some short term fixes are to disconnect the battery at night, and carry a portable jump starter in your vehicle.
If disconnecting the power cable from the alternator and stopped the current drain on your battery you should have seen a reading. This does not necessarily mean the alternator is bad. See below circled in yellow.
While you’re under the hood (or at Advance Auto Parts), test the alternator. A failed diode in the alternator creates a closed circuit that drains your battery even when the engine is off.
How to fix a parasitic drain on a multimeter?
Disconnect the negative battery cable. On the amperage side of the multimeter dial, set it to 20 amps. Disconnect the negative battery cable. Touch a lead to the negative battery cable terminal. Touch the other lead to the negative battery post, completing the circuit within the multimeter, which will display the amp draw.
What happens if you have a bad diode in an alternator?
A malfunctioning diode in the alternator can create a parasitic drain on a car’s battery. Diodes should allow current to pass in only one direction, but a bad diode will keep the charging circuit open even when the engine in not running, allowing the battery to go dead. This often happens overnight.
What should I do if I have a bad alternator?
Turn off all electrical equipment, including anything custom on a car or even phone charger. Make sure your doors and trunk are closed and none of the bulbs are lid. 3) Disconnect one of your batery cables from the battery port. 4) Connect one wire of your amp meter to that battery port and another to disconnected from it cable.
Can a bad alternator cause parasitic drain and still?
Just because your alternator is providing 14v to the OBD system doesn’t mean it has enough amperage to charge the battery correctly. Based on what you’ve said, it sounds like either bad alternator or some parasitic drain, my money is on alternator. seems to be the case with my dakota..had the alt.tested and shure enough it has a bad diode.