How to diagnose a parasitic battery drain test?
Car battery problems, specially a parasitic battery drain, are difficult to diagnose sometimes. New vehicle models make it specially difficult, time consuming, and frustrating. They come with more control modules than previous year models and hundreds more electrical circuits.
What causes a parasitic battery drain in a car?
A parasitic battery drain is when an abnormal and continuous discharge of power occurs after having shut off the engine. Usually, this is caused by a short circuit or an electrical device that remains in the “on” position or energized, such as: But a battery-power drain can also be the work of a bad alternator diode or even a faulty battery.
Where can I get an amperage battery drain test?
However, your local public library may have a copy of the manual in the reference section as well. The amperage battery drain test requires disconnecting one of the battery cables. If your car radio or alarm system needs a code to reactivate it after cutting battery power, make sure you know the code to turn it back on.
What does a hydrometer test on a battery mean?
The hydrometer test is a quick way to check the state of charge and health of your battery. It will let you know whether your battery is fully charged, needs a charge, or one or more cells have failed. A hydrometer is an inexpensive tool.
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.
Do you need a positive cable for parasitic draw testing?
Some people remove the positive cable to do this test, and that’s fine, but I recommend the negative cable when doing parasitic draw testing. Put your meter on the highest DC amp scale. This might require that you move your test lead to a special location on your DVOM.
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.
Where do I place my parasitic draw meter?
Put your meter on the highest DC amp scale. This might require that you move your test lead to a special location on your DVOM. Place the leads in series between the negative cable and the negative battery post and take your measurement.
How to find battery drain in your car?
How to test battery. How to find battery drain. How to do a parasitic draw t… Battery drain test. How to fix battery drain in your car DIY with Scotty Kilmer. How to test battery. How to find battery drain.
What should the parasitic draw be on a car battery?
For testing purposes, we will select 2A or 200mA in the amp section of the meter. This is where we can see the parasitic draw on the battery. The reading for a normal vehicle with no parasitic draw can range from 10mA to 50mA, depending on the manufacturer and the amount of computers and features the vehicle has.
When to look for a parasitic battery drain?
A parasitic drain is when an electrical device is using battery power when the car is closed, and the ignition key removed. Therefore, when doing this test make sure that the dome light, under hood light, trunk light, etc. are off.
How does the Lisle battery drain tester work?
Provides an Easy Method to Connect a Multimeter to the Vehicle Electrical System to Diagnose Hidden Battery Drain. Replaceable in-line fuses protect both the meter and tester in the event a high current source on the vehicle is left on. The multimeter is bypassed with the switch during connection in case of a power surge.
Can a multimeter detect hidden battery drain in a car?
Provides an Easy Method to Connect a Multimeter to the Vehicle Electrical System to Diagnose Hidden Battery Drain. Provides an Easy Method to Connect a Multimeter to the Vehicle Electrical System to Diagnose Hidden Battery Drain.
How can I find out if my battery is draining?
Replace the fuse and disconnect each lamp, heater, or electrical device one at a time. Flip all of the switches that correspond to the components as well. Watch for the reading on the multimeter to drop to find out which component is causing the drain. For instance, say the offending fuse controls the power antenna as well as the radio.