Weird electrical problem. Parasitic drain?

[jpeaslee]

I bought my truck in March of last year (234k on the clock). I completely drained the battery twice (didn't understand that the headlights turned back on and stayed on when you disconnect and reconnect the battery if you leave it on the on position in the cab), which subsequently killed the battery. Replaced it with an optima yellow top and everything has been fine since. Until I moved up to North Alabama 2 months ago.

With the new job, I drive a company car and mine doesn't get touched except Sat and Sun. By the time I go to start it on saturday morning it is either too dead to start or just BARELY turns over. Once it runs for a bit everything is fine and it'll start up fine the rest of the weekend.

I had advance auto test the battery, turns out its fine. I tried puttig a ammeter in series with the battery to see if something was pulling juice. I got 0 milliamps pulled. Just to make sure i wasn't being stupid, i tried turning on the parking lights (my led angel eyes and tails) and it pulled 10 milliamps.

I didn't have the problem, or at least it wasn't ever drained enough to notice it, when I first moved up here in Dec. It has become a lot worse in the last month. It has gotten a lot colder (you'll have to forgive me, I'm a south GA boy), but it doesn't seem like it's cold enough to kill batteries in a week.

Am I crazy? What am I missing?

 

[allwheeldrive]

First things first. Typical draw is around 30-60mA. You get above 80 or 90, then I'd start wondering what's going on. What kind of meter are you using, how are you hooking it up? Those numbers you gave us don't make sense.

Second, what kind of aftermarket items installed that are wired in? I see headlight and tailights possibly? I'd start there once you get an accurate reading.

 

[Mandelbaum]

Run any sound system components? If you have an error in wiring the auto-on signal your amplifiers might be on all the time which would in turn kill your battery.

 

[LittleCaesar]

Dying alternator or bad cable (connection possibly) are the two places I would look first.

 

[jpeaslee]

First things first. Typical draw is around 30-60mA. You get above 80 or 90, then I'd start wondering what's going on. What kind of meter are you using, how are you hooking it up? Those numbers you gave us don't make sense.

Second, what kind of aftermarket items installed that are wired in? I see headlight and tailights possibly? I'd start there once you get an accurate reading.

I don't remember the brand (and I don't have it in front me now), but I've had it since college (maybe 09). The battery was dying in it when I started, but I replaced it without a change in the results. I'm utting it in series with the ground wire (disconnecting the NEG on the battery, putting one lead to the battery, and the other to the cable that goes to the NEG terminal)

As far as aftermarket stuff I have my TRS Mini D2S headlights, a 20" lightbar wired to the factory fog switch using a relay, a winch that I only hook up when I'm using it, and that's about it. The angel eyes are hooked into the corner lights.

Run any sound system components? If you have an error in wiring the auto-on signal your amplifiers might be on all the time which would in turn kill your battery.

I have an aftermarket head unit, but nothing strange there.

Dying alternator or bad cable (connection possibly) are the two places I would look first.

I don't see how it could be the alternator as it charges the battery fine, it only dies when it's not being driven for a chunk of time.

 

[Buckaroo]

Could it be that you do not have the range set properly on that meter? Maybe you toggled it from auto-range to fixed range. I would think you would pull way more than 10mA with those lights, maybe 15mA per individual LED.

Buckaroo

 

[IBallEngineer]

OK, the first thing is not what typical draw is. The first thing is this:

IS THE BATTERY DEAD?

I know it sounds simplistic, but remember, we aren't in front of your truck, YOU ARE.

Now, when you try to start it and it doesn't. Check the battery voltage, is it good? If it is, check the battery terminals/connections.

If battery voltage is NOT good, try a known good battery. I hate Optimas with great passion. I was a big fan 10 or 12 years ago, but they went to shit fast. I've owned at least 10 and they go bad so fast it isn't funny. I'll never buy another.

If it still goes dead, then start looking for a draw.

:cheer2: