Draining battery via dashlights (I think)

[luvmyt4r]

I have been searching here over the last couple of months first of all and have yet to come up with an answer. Must be using wrong key words. Anyway. My 2004 has been draining the battery over the last couple of months and even ruined a battery via freezing. I have noticed that when I turn my headlights on, the "low beam" light according to the owners manual comes on. The dash lights are also on when I drive without the lights turned on. I can dim them like the lights are on, but the lights behind the climate control do not come on until I turn the headlights all the way on. I am thinking there is a short somewhere or a relay that fried. Any ideas?

Thank you much in advance.

 

[Brutalguyracing]

you can do a current drain test with a meter if you have one...
fuse by fuse and see what ciruit is draining current

 

[luvmyt4r]

I did just go buy one this morning. I figured it would be cheaper than the dealer right off the bat. But why would the dash lights all of a sudden decide to come on when the key is turned on? None of the other lights do it.

 

[luvmyt4r]

Anyone have this problem before? Maybe a relay?

 

[MikeInNH]

I have noticed that when I turn my headlights on, the "low beam" light according to the owners manual comes on. The dash lights are also on when I drive without the lights turned on. I can dim them like the lights are on, but the lights behind the climate control do not come on until I turn the headlights all the way on.

That's the way mine works. The dash lights are on all the time when key is turned to on position. The climate control lights turn on when the lights are on. Same with the radio.

But that doesn't explain why the battery is draining at night. Something else is going on.