Parasitic draw

Tiny
STARLORD1976
  • MEMBER
  • 2008 DODGE CHARGER
  • 5.7L
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 120,000 MILES
I have a parasitic draw, hooked computer up to car and it says I have a driver seat track faulted, and passenger airbag light comes on sometimes. And now it says it’s off. Would any of these cause the draw?
Monday, December 20th, 2021 AT 10:36 AM

10 Replies

Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Good evening,

I would start by doing the test to see what the draw is. You need to disconnect the negative cable and install a voltmeter in line. Red lead to cable and black lead to the negative of the battery.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-battery-dead-overnight

Then set the meter to amps, not volts. Let the car sit for about 10 minutes so the modules go to sleep.

Then look at the reading. It should be 50-75 milliamps. Any more than that, you have a draw. Remove the fuses one by one until the reading drops to within specs. Then you have to narrow down what is controlled by the fuse and determine which component is causing the draw.

Roy

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Monday, December 20th, 2021 AT 3:13 PM
Tiny
STARLORD1976
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  • 173 POSTS
I did the test twice and there isn’t a parasitic draw, but every few days to a week my battery still drains. This is my third battery
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Sunday, May 22nd, 2022 AT 9:47 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
If you, did it correctly, you should have 50-75 milli amps as a draw.

What was your reading?

Roy
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Sunday, May 22nd, 2022 AT 2:07 PM
Tiny
STARLORD1976
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  • 173 POSTS
It was zeros with a 5 at the end.
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Sunday, May 22nd, 2022 AT 7:32 PM
Tiny
STARLORD1976
  • MEMBER
  • 173 POSTS
Also, not sure if this matters but if I unhook negative wire along the battery still drains so I have to unhook both negative and positive.
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Monday, May 23rd, 2022 AT 10:11 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
If you have to disconnect both, you have a shorted battery.

Replace the battery.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-a-car-battery

Roy
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Tuesday, May 24th, 2022 AT 6:59 AM
Tiny
STARLORD1976
  • MEMBER
  • 173 POSTS
I have another new battery, but still have battery drain. And still if I unhook the negative cable it still drains.
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Thursday, October 20th, 2022 AT 9:55 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,526 POSTS
This means the new battery is no good, if there is nothing connected, it is the battery.
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Saturday, October 22nd, 2022 AT 6:04 PM
Tiny
STARLORD1976
  • MEMBER
  • 173 POSTS
The positive cable is hooked but not the negative.
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Tuesday, October 25th, 2022 AT 1:21 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,526 POSTS
Yep, the battery soud slike it is bad. You can have it tested at the auto parts store to be sure.
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Wednesday, October 26th, 2022 AT 10:17 AM

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