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Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / Maintenance and Repair / November 2006

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Jeep GC- battery keeps dying- 100ma draw too mcuh?

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Mike C - 11 Nov 2006 14:44 GMT
I've had to jump my 2001 Jeep GC many times in the last 6 weeks.
Battery and alternator check out as okay. I started looking for battery
drain.  I tested a 90-100ma draw with ignition and everything else
powered off.  Is this too high?  From what I read, this wouldn't drain
the battery in a matter of days.
Comboverfish - 11 Nov 2006 15:06 GMT
> I've had to jump my 2001 Jeep GC many times in the last 6 weeks.
> Battery and alternator check out as okay. I started looking for battery
> drain.  I tested a 90-100ma draw with ignition and everything else
> powered off.  Is this too high?  From what I read, this wouldn't drain
> the battery in a matter of days.

A constant 100mA is too much, but I agree that it would take atleast
several days for it to drain a typical battery down.  Leave your
ammeter on for about 10 minutes and see if the current ever drops down
below 50mA.  What typically happens is that several of the major ECMs
are still communicating/powered up after the key is turned off.  They
will power down one at a time until your draw is very low, like 25mA or
so.  It can take from around 2 to 10 minutes, so give it time.

If you still read a constant 100mA then I would start unplugging fuses
and look for a drop.  Start with any aftermarket addon stuff like radio
or alarm.

Toyota MDT in MO
Mike C - 11 Nov 2006 15:09 GMT
> > I've had to jump my 2001 Jeep GC many times in the last 6 weeks.
> > Battery and alternator check out as okay. I started looking for battery
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
>
> Toyota MDT in MO

I did take several readings, even the next morning after the car had
been off and they all read 90-100ma.  I pulled the power outlets which
I have an mp3 player connected to (mounted under drivers seat), but
that didn't do it. Would the alarm be fused?  I am suspicious of that.
Comboverfish - 11 Nov 2006 15:44 GMT
> > > I've had to jump my 2001 Jeep GC many times in the last 6 weeks.
> > > Battery and alternator check out as okay. I started looking for battery
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
> I have an mp3 player connected to (mounted under drivers seat), but
> that didn't do it. Would the alarm be fused?  I am suspicious of that.

Are you using a DVOM set to mA in between a battery post and it's
terminal, or an inductive clamp style ammeter?  Are you certain it is
accurate?

Yes, the alarm, if aftermarket, should be fused.  Look for the alarm
module usually found under the dash, and there will be several inline
fuse holders wired to it.  Pull all of these fuses.

Keep in mind you need to keep a DVOM style ammeter in place at all
times during the test.  If you break it's connection the ECMs will have
to go through their power cycle again when you hook it back up, and all
capacitors will have to recharge.  If your meter automatically powers
down (a common battery saving feature) then it may break the connection
that way as well.

Toyota MDT in MO
Mike C - 11 Nov 2006 15:52 GMT
> > > > I've had to jump my 2001 Jeep GC many times in the last 6 weeks.
> > > > Battery and alternator check out as okay. I started looking for battery
[quoted text clipped - 37 lines]
>
> Toyota MDT in MO

It is a DVOM in betwen battery post and battery wire. I did leave it
all night (meter in place) and had the same reading this morning, so
the ECMs shouldn't be a factor.
Comboverfish - 11 Nov 2006 16:11 GMT
> It is a DVOM in betwen battery post and battery wire. I did leave it
> all night (meter in place) and had the same reading this morning, so
> the ECMs shouldn't be a factor.

Good.  If it is a decent DVOM it should be very accurate at reading
amperage.  Start pulling fuses.

Toyota MDT in MO
Mike Romain - 11 Nov 2006 16:10 GMT
Besides the draw, dirty connections on the battery cable ends,
especially the one that goes to the body can and do cause your
symptoms.  They can get to a point of needing a boost each morning but
working all day idea.

With the dirty connections, the battery only gets a light charge in it
which won't last long sitting.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos:  Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

> I've had to jump my 2001 Jeep GC many times in the last 6 weeks.
> Battery and alternator check out as okay. I started looking for battery
> drain.  I tested a 90-100ma draw with ignition and everything else
> powered off.  Is this too high?  From what I read, this wouldn't drain
> the battery in a matter of days.
Mike C - 11 Nov 2006 16:11 GMT
> Besides the draw, dirty connections on the battery cable ends,
> especially the one that goes to the body can and do cause your
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
> > powered off.  Is this too high?  From what I read, this wouldn't drain
> > the battery in a matter of days.

I looked at the negative ground to the engine and it doesn't look
corroded. I have heard that casuing problems.  Maybe I will get in
there and disconnect it and inspect it.
hls - 12 Nov 2006 14:35 GMT
> I looked at the negative ground to the engine and it doesn't look
> corroded. I have heard that casuing problems.  Maybe I will get in
> there and disconnect it and inspect it.

Some of these cables corrode internally and you may not see it unless you
can skin back the
rubber and examine.  And, battery cables and their contact points also need
to be clean on both
ends for them to work correctly.

100 ma is a little high, but as was previously posted, this should last
several days.

Try removing the wire that goes from alternator to battery and see if the
drain goes away.
If so, maybe there is a high resistance short in a diode in the alternator.
This will not only
decrease your ability to charge, but can also give a discharge path to
ground. ( If your normal
static drain is 50 ma, then your additional resistance path to ground would
be about 270 ohms)

Batteries that are more than a year or two old may also fool you.  Have you
had it checked?
Is the electrolyte up to level?  Poor battery test procedures can often give
a clean bill of health
to a crappy battery.
Mike C - 12 Nov 2006 18:23 GMT
> > I looked at the negative ground to the engine and it doesn't look
> > corroded. I have heard that casuing problems.  Maybe I will get in
[quoted text clipped - 23 lines]
> a clean bill of health
> to a crappy battery.

The battery is less than a year old. The place I bought it tested it
and said it was good. I am wondering if it could test good, but not
hold the charge over a period of time (obviously, they are just testing
it for 15 minutes).

I am wondering if this is my scenario:
Battery drain is draining the battery. I frequently take very short
trips (3-5 miles).  When I don't use the car for several days, battery
drains=dead battery and causes car not to start.  I jump, run 15
minutes and take my short trip.  Since battery doesn't fully charge on
these short trips, 2 days later battery drain zaps what little charge
is in battery.  Since the problem seems intermittant, I think it could
be directly related to how long I am running the car.  On short trips,
the battery isn't fully charging.
Bill Darden - 13 Nov 2006 17:21 GMT
>> > I looked at the negative ground to the engine and it doesn't look
>> > corroded. I have heard that casuing problems.  Maybe I will get in
[quoted text clipped - 38 lines]
>be directly related to how long I am running the car.  On short trips,
>the battery isn't fully charging.

Bingo, you have found the problem.  The undercharging of your battery
from the short trips and inactivity causes a slow buildup of lead
sulfate which is robbing your battery of capacity that will not
necessarily show up on a conductive battery tester.  Please see
Section 16 in the Car and Deep Cycle Battery FAQ on www.batteryfaq.org
on how to identify sulfation problems and how to cure some of them.

The best way to prevent sulfation is to keep the battery fully
charged.  If this is not practical, then periodically recharge your
battery with an external battery charger matched to your battery type.
Section 9 has information of charging and chargers and Section 7.1 has
information of battery types.

Kindest regards,

BiLL.....
 
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