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Battery drains out

Tiny
1969VETTES
  • MEMBER
  • 2008 FORD EXPEDITION
  • 5.4L
  • V8
  • TURBO
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 10,000 MILES
Check charging light staying on, battery runs down after a day or so
Monday, February 16th, 2015 AT 3:28 PM

23 Replies

Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,922 POSTS
The first suspect is the generator. You can start the diagnosis by measuring the battery voltage while the engine is running. It must be between 13.75 and 14.75 volts. If it is low, there are a few other voltages to measure before replacing the generator.
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Monday, February 16th, 2015 AT 3:36 PM
Tiny
KTMKEVIN
  • MEMBER
  • 21 POSTS
Yeah, my buddies Mustang GT did this about 6 months ago. The alternator fixed both problems.
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Tuesday, April 28th, 2015 AT 1:17 PM
Tiny
JMB70056
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2007 FORD EXPEDITION
My battery in my 2007 Ford Expedition EL keeps dying every night and when I wake up I have to jump with my battery charger, the battery is brand new and the alternator was tested and they said it was fine, so what could be causing my battery to die like this? Thank you for your help.
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Tuesday, April 14th, 2020 AT 12:17 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
You have a short in the electrical system that is draining the battery overnight.


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/12900_parastic_draw_1_185.jpg



This guide can help as well

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-battery-dead-overnight
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Tuesday, April 14th, 2020 AT 12:17 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DOUGJEANSCHREIBER
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
I have the same problem, but when I hook up my meter it is not consistent on a draw. It randomly is going up and down pulling power? I have pulled fuses and nothing stops the random draw on the battery?
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Tuesday, April 14th, 2020 AT 12:17 PM (Merged)
Tiny
EMORAN3
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2004 FORD EXPEDITION
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 83,000 MILES
New battery last week because truck would not start.
Low water in battery, so replaced. This week truck would not start again. I also just noticed the rear window wiper is stuck in partial stroke and not returning to resting position. Could this be the cause of my battery drain.
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Tuesday, April 14th, 2020 AT 12:17 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BLUELIGHTNIN6
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,542 POSTS
The wiper stuck could definitely cause the wiper circuit to remain closed which will drain the battery quickly. Pull the fuse to the wiper circuit until the repairs can be made to fix the wiper issue.
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Tuesday, April 14th, 2020 AT 12:17 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WAYNEMERTZ
  • MEMBER
  • 57 POSTS
  • 2001 FORD EXPEDITION
  • 5.4L
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 210,000 MILES
I have a battery drain which drains my current battery overnight. On a new battery in two days.
I have tested the drainage several times and see a drainage of.08 milliamps. When I pull the #1 fuse (Audio) it goes down to.01 milliamps. Now this looks good, but in the morning the battery is dead to the point that the car will not start... I am currently trying to pull the 15amp fuse for the interior/running board lights and the 25amp audio fuses to see if the battery holds up overnight. It seems something is coming on overnight that is draining the battery.
I just picked up this truck, so I know very little about it. I know something isn't correct with the load leveler system, but I have that switch turned off (lower kick panel on passenger side). Any further suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks
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Tuesday, April 14th, 2020 AT 12:17 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,937 POSTS
Place Amp meter between Bat Pos (+) and the cable, read off current draw with all doors closed and key out of ignition, now you can pull all fuses one at a time and check for any circuit drawing excessive current, do not forget to also test alternator, by disconnection battery feed as well as, as a blown diode in the regulator can cause current draw and still give you a charge rate, albeit lower than what would be normal.
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Tuesday, April 14th, 2020 AT 12:17 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WAYNEMERTZ
  • MEMBER
  • 57 POSTS
I have traced the battery drain to the 30amp fuse under the hood that controls the PCM. With the fuse out, the battery stays charged. When put in, the battery drains out within hours. The question is: How many outgoing circuits are there from the PCM which might somehow drain the battery with the ignition off? Perhaps I can find their connectors and disconnect them one at a time to see if the battery stays charged.

Thanks.
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Tuesday, April 14th, 2020 AT 12:17 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,937 POSTS
The PCM uses a multi pin cannon plug that feeds all the engine management system, disconnecting each control unit will cause more problems than it is worth, I would first do a scan for any codes and if you can get a good test unit as a trial, plug that in and see if it fixes the problem, the PCM may well be at fault itself.
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Tuesday, April 14th, 2020 AT 12:17 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BAYOUJOHN
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2001 FORD EXPEDITION
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 151,000 MILES
Was driving and my abs light came on then a few seconds later my radio went out, after another minute all the dash gauges went down to nothing, the car lost acceleration and then stalled. Couldnt start car, lights inside were blinking and clicking off and on. I got a tow, charged the battery and the car ran fine for a couple of days. Had the alternator and battery tested, both good. Driving car and battery light comes on and after about 5 miles headlights and dash lights dim. Got the car home b4 it stalled. Charged battery over night now the car starts but the battery light stays on. What could be my problem if the alternator tests good?
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Tuesday, April 14th, 2020 AT 12:17 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,896 POSTS
Hi:
I think you need to recheck the alt. I will provide directions at the end of this post. As far as the problem. If the alt checks good, then there is a wiring problem. There are fuseable links between the alt and the battery that can go bad.

Check this and let me know what you find. The only tool you need is a volt meter.

https://www.2carpros.com/how_to/how_to_test_alternator.htm
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Tuesday, April 14th, 2020 AT 12:17 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BAYOUJOHN
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Hi,
thanks for your advice. I checked the alternator and found it good so I checked the fusible link and found no continuity. Then after I moved it around a bit I had conntinuity so im going to replace the fusible link and see if that solves my problem. I'll let you know how it turns out. Thank you again.
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Tuesday, April 14th, 2020 AT 12:17 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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That is the problem. I feel confident it will take care of the problem. Let me know how it turns out for you.

Joe
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Tuesday, April 14th, 2020 AT 12:17 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CASSANDRA_A
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2001 FORD EXPEDITION
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 150,000 MILES
Battery goes dead overnight. New Battery installed. Hooked positive cable up. Test light between negative cable and negative post. Light bulb bright. Pulled audio fuse light bulb goes dim and on and off. Relay #2 (battery saver relay) clicks on and off. Why?
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Tuesday, April 14th, 2020 AT 12:17 PM (Merged)
Tiny
EDIMARTINO
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
Cassandra_a. Please help! I'm chasing down the exact same problem with my 2000 Expedition and it is driving me nuts. I can't find anything similar on the net. Can you tell me what the outcome of this was and what the problem was in the end? If you can remember from 2008 that is.

Huge Thanks,
Eric
dimartino1@usermail. Com
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Tuesday, April 14th, 2020 AT 12:17 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CKM11
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2000 FORD EXPEDITION
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 125,000 MILES
Just this morning noticed that defroster was running even after car off. Drained battery overnight. Able to jump start with no problem. Any ideas?
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Tuesday, April 14th, 2020 AT 12:18 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,896 POSTS
This is an interesting one because there shouldn't be any power to the system with the key off. There could be a couple problens. One, the ignition switch isn't working properly to shut the power, or you have a dead short that is providing power all of the time.

I need you to check for a draw. We already know you have one, but while checking, take one fuse out at a time. Identify which fuse stops the draw so we know if we are even working with the correct circuit.

Here is a how to for checking for a draw:

https://www.2carpros.com/first_things/why_is_my_car_battery_dead_over_night.htm

Let me know what you find.
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Tuesday, April 14th, 2020 AT 12:18 PM (Merged)
Tiny
G.MLYNAREK
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2000 FORD EXPEDITION
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 150,000 MILES
2000 ford expedition front blower runs on high with key out and drains battery. With truck running it works properly.
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Tuesday, April 14th, 2020 AT 12:18 PM (Merged)

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