what is best way to find a battery circuit short?

1999 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN
V8 • 4WD • AUTOMATIC
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ALPETERSON
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  • 3 POSTS
1999 Chevy suburban has a short that drains the battery completely, found the short could be in the battery circuit, shows an 8.2ohm reading from hot to ground. This is a 50 amp circuit in the fuse box under the hood, still looking for the actual location of the short-any ideas?
Jan 23, 2011 at 7:51 PM
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MERLIN2021
  • ASE Certified Mechanic
  • 17,250 POSTS
  • ASE Certified Mechanic
Get an analog voltmeter remove the negative battery cable, attach the Black lead to the battery post, Red lead to cable end, then pull fuses one at a time, make sure there are no accessories or lights in the on position, Key off! Close the door have someone in the car, pull fuses one at a time after each fuse check meter, when you pull the fuse for the bad curcuit, the meter will drop to 1 volt or so. Check all fuses, even under the hood. If meter does not drop, remove the battery connection from the alternator, if it drops now, the diodes are bad in the alternator. Put the fuse back in were it goes as you go so you don't forget which fuse goes were! Wait several minutes after hooking up the meter before pulling fuses, test with a good battery!
https://www.2carpros.com/first_things/why_is_my_car_battery_dead_over_night.htm
GM's with Onstar can take up to 1/2 hour for all the modules to "sleep" before testing can begin!
Jan 23, 2011 at 7:54 PM
Avatar
MERLIN2021
  • ASE Certified Mechanic
  • 17,250 POSTS
  • ASE Certified Mechanic
Get an analog voltmeter remove the negative battery cable, attach the Black lead to the battery post, Red lead to cable end, then pull fuses one at a time, make sure there are no accessories or lights in the on position, Key off! Close the door have someone in the car, pull fuses one at a time after each fuse check meter, when you pull the fuse for the bad curcuit, the meter will drop to 1 volt or so. Check all fuses, even under the hood. If meter does not drop, remove the battery connection from the alternator, if it drops now, the diodes are bad in the alternator. Put the fuse back in were it goes as you go so you don't forget which fuse goes were! Wait several minutes after hooking up the meter before pulling fuses, test with a good battery!
https://www.2carpros.com/first_things/why_is_my_car_battery_dead_over_night.htm
Jan 23, 2011 at 7:56 PM
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