2001 Grand Am GT - Battery Drain

Avatar
MMULVANEY
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
My 2001 Grand Am GT 3.4 V6 with 37,000 miles loaded with all the accessories has a drain on the battery at all times. I put a test light between the negative battery terminal and cable to confirm the drain. I pulled all the fuses at the driver's and passanger's side of the dash which did nothing to eliminate the draw. I also took the wiring off of the alternator, wiring to fuel injectors, and trunk lock and light.

The only way I can eliminate the current draw is to pull maxifuse #2 and #3 at the engine compartment fues block. Maxifuse #2 controls right electrical center, fog lamps, radio, body function control module, and interior lamps. Maxifuse #3 controls left electrical center, stop lamps, hazzard lamps, body function control module, cluster and climate control system.

I unplugged the body function control module under the dash and also took out the radio/cd player and continued to have this current draw.

I am at a loss of what to do now without dismanteling ALL of the wiring and dash related components.

Thanks for your help!
Jan 5, 2006 at 8:48 AM

What to check next

Diagnostic guidance. Suggested checks and possible repairs are separate from the owner's reported results.

Have the battery condition and key-off current measured with the vehicle allowed to enter its specified sleep state. Use the wiring diagram to isolate the affected circuits before replacing a module.

Guidance references and applicability

Source: This question and its visible discussion. Owner reports are distinguished from other participants' experiences. Follow-up guidance is not a confirmed diagnosis. Fluke: Diagnosing voltage drops https://www.fluke.com/en/learn/blog/automotive/electrical-automotive-troubleshooting General support for loaded circuit testing; use the actual vehicle wiring and specifications.

Read the replies · Discussion summary and reported outcome

Advertisement
Avatar
MMULVANEY
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
The draw is 2- 3 amps If the car sits overnight it will barely crank over The battery is a new 6 year Delco . If I unhook the battery cable at night it won't go dead.
Jan 6, 2006 at 5:51 AM
Avatar
SEBASTIEN CAYER
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
I know this is a old question. Have you ever found what was causing a battery drain ? I have the same issue on my car and i am at a lost. I have 2001 pontiac grand am gt
Feb 6, 2017 at 5:06 AM
Avatar
CARADIODOC
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
  • 34,413 POSTS
You need to start a new question, and PLEASE include the mileage and engine size. This is a conversation between two people. None of the other experts will ever see it or have a chance to reply. That does you a disservice. You also need to list the exact symptoms and observations, and the results of any testing that has been done already.

Since GM redesigned their generators for the '87 model year, they have had a real lot of charging system problems. Those are more common than battery drain problems, so we need to be sure we're working with the right symptom.
Feb 6, 2017 at 5:27 AM

Discussion summary

2001 Grand Am GT - Battery Drain

A 2001 Grand Am GT repeatedly lost battery charge overnight. The owner reported a two-to-three-amp draw and said removing two main fuses affected it. Disconnecting several suspected components did not isolate the cause; the battery reportedly retained charge when disconnected overnight.

Reported outcome: No cause or completed repair was reported.

The reported current lacked settling-time and measurement details. A test-light observation alone does not quantify battery drain.

Read the original discussion

Add a reply
Join 2CarPros for free, one of the most advanced car repair communities on the internet. From first-time drivers to seasoned mechanics, everyone is welcome to reply, share details, and get better answers. You can add a temporary image or video first; uploads are limited to 20 MB.

Frequently Asked Problems for This Vehicle