1999 Mazda 626 Battery Drain

MAZDA 626
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DRUNKBOY1319
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I have a 1999 mazda 626 with 68,000 miles it is the 2.0 DOHC 4 cylinder engine auto trnasmission. over the last year i have gone through 5 batteries. if i leave it sit for more than 3 days the battery is dead and will not start the car. I have had the charging system checked and they have said that there is nothing wrong with it. Any ideas? Also i have been running a lower cold cranking amp battery on my car than i did in previous years when i was in alaska and my automatic locks will lock and unlock on their own. is it possible that i have a short or could that be from the lower cold cranking amp battery?
May 24, 2007 at 10:00 PM
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SERVICE WRITER
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It sounds like you have an excessive "Parasitic draw" problem. It is called parasitic because when the car is not running, certain components feed off the battery, such as the computer, clock etc. When other components like a dome light is left on, it will take more energy then the battery can supply in a short time draining the battery. If you are sure that everything is off, including hood light, dome light, glove box light, trunk light, then your best to take it into an independent repair shop and have them troubleshoot it. You can try pulling fuse # 5 - 30 amp and or fuse #2 - 15 amp. IF the problem stops, you have found the circuit if it is indeed the auto door lock circuits.


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May 24, 2007 at 11:34 PM

Suggested Repair

Have a shop test for a parasitic battery draw. Confirm all interior, hood, glove-box, and trunk lights are off. Isolate the automatic door-lock circuits by pulling fuse 5 (30 amp) and/or fuse 2 (15 amp); if the drain stops, that circuit is the cause. A lower-CCA battery is not the root cause of repeated drain.

Conversation Summary

The owner of a 1999 Mazda 626 reports replacing five batteries in a year; the battery dies if the car sits more than three days. The charging system was checked and found OK. The door locks also cycle by themselves, and a lower-CCA battery is being used. The expert attributes the problem to excessive parasitic draw and recommends confirming all lights are off, having a shop diagnose the drain, and testing door-lock fuses 5 and 2.

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