Electric draw diagnosis begins!
#1
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
Electric draw diagnosis begins!
So either my 12/17 Optima red top is toast or I have to keep my car on the CTEK trickle charger as usual. Well full charge lasted maybe a day or so and we begin diagnosis. I barely drive btw. Alternator was replaced in 2015. I have the final length of battery cable to alternator and starter on the way from Porsche Marin just to be certain. My battery tests fine using a SOLAR BA-7 and running everything it suggests on the battery. So I placed the multimeter in-line with battery and NEG cable. Left car closed and frunk switch closed manually for about an hour to power everything down. Watch and be amazed.
Last edited by ALEV8; 10-11-2020 at 10:32 PM.
#2
Racer
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Cairns, North Queensland, Australia
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So either my 12/17 Optima red top is toast or I have to keep my car on the CTEK trickle charger as usual. Well full charge lasted maybe a day or so and we begin diagnosis. I barely drive btw. Alternator was replaced in 2015. I have the final length of battery cable to alternator and starter on the way from Porsche Marin just to be certain. My battery tests fine using a SOLAR BA-7 and running everything it suggests on the battery. So I placed the multimeter in-line with battery and NEG cable. Left car closed and frunk switch closed manually for about an hour to power everything down. Watch and be amazed.
https://youtu.be/du0kySVDLnc
https://youtu.be/du0kySVDLnc
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ALEV8 (10-12-2020)
#3
RL Community Team
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
What does it do if you lock the car, which puts things to sleep? Should drop considerably. If not, you have a parasitic draw somewhere. What aftermarket stuff is installed - stereo, backup camera, Bluetooth, phone charging, etc?
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ALEV8 (10-12-2020)
#4
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
Sony aftermarket HU plus backup camera and that’s it. I was told not to lock the car by my tech at PPP dealership. He felt .6 was too high.
I have a separate thread for the new wing/deck lid I installed which will not raise or lower via interior switch; even replaced it to no avail......I will reinstall durametric on my MBPro again and take a look at what is doing what to make myself feel better before handing it back to the tech!
I have a separate thread for the new wing/deck lid I installed which will not raise or lower via interior switch; even replaced it to no avail......I will reinstall durametric on my MBPro again and take a look at what is doing what to make myself feel better before handing it back to the tech!
Last edited by ALEV8; 10-12-2020 at 11:36 AM.
#5
RL Community Team
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Either lock it or plug it in, but while you have the meter hooked up, lock it and after 1 minute, see what the amperage drawn is. If it's still high, I'm betting on the aftermarket stereo connections and how those were tapped in. You could pull the stereo separate fuse on the main power supply wore and see if the amp draw goes away or if they used the same wire that originally powers the PCM, pull that fuse and see.
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ALEV8 (10-12-2020)
#6
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
I followed the process to use the factory plug and wiring by connecting the corresponding female Metra plug and soldering everything. I do put it on the charger if car is going to mostly sit. I agree this Optima should last a looooong time! Battery should not be croaking in a day or two though....I can re-test with locking car added. My understanding is the alarm and Inneraumsensor (interior radar) will draw some current. Battery drain is same as before new stereo. I just used the CTEK constantly.
How quickly does entire car power down? 25min?
How quickly does entire car power down? 25min?
Last edited by ALEV8; 10-12-2020 at 11:42 AM.
#7
Rennlist Member
double click on your remote disable the interior sensors (signal light stay solid for 2 seconds) so you draw even less current when locked.
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ALEV8 (10-12-2020)
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#9
RL Community Team
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
I followed the process to use the factory plug and wiring by connecting the corresponding female Metra plug and soldering everything. I do put it on the charger if car is going to mostly sit. I agree this Optima should last a looooong time! Battery should not be croaking in a day or two though....I can re-test with locking car added. My understanding is the alarm and Inneraumsensor (interior radar) will draw some current. Battery drain is same as before new stereo. I just used the CTEK constantly.
How quickly does entire car power down? 25min?
How quickly does entire car power down? 25min?
#10
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
I think the car should be hooked up to PIWIS anyway to see where the draw is.....it’s drawing for sure if the battery croaks almost in two days.
#11
Rennlist Member
Find the draw the old fashioned way. Pull the fuses one by one until hopefully you find one that when removed reduces your draw significantly. Then look at the components on that circuit.
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ALEV8 (10-12-2020)
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ALEV8 (10-12-2020)
#13
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
Another quick exchange of texts with the tech, and I need to hunt for it manually. PIWIS doesn’t monitor the car voltage by module as it falls asleep, as I thought it does.
#14
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
So disable interior alarm monitoring, lock doors with me inside, and I somehow will contort my body from the passenger side to access fuse panel, manipulate light source and fuses, but I don’t have a helper.......this could get interesting! I think this is the way.