Home
About Us
Calendar
Fiero Documents
Merchandise
Tips
Links
Members
Message Board
Other Fiero Clubs
VIN Decoder
Speed Calculator
GFC Facebook Page
 
« previous next »
Pages: [1]

Author Topic: Best way to find a power drain  (Read 7738 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Donster

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2,042
    • View Profile
Best way to find a power drain
« on: April 14, 2020, 07:01:34 am »
We seem to have a slight power drain on the Fiero. We leave it set over night and the next day the battery doesn't have enough power to start the car. Interior light are bright, trunk pops no problem, head light come on no problem, so I'm assuming it is only a slight drain. Funny thing is, the radio looses all presets. Could the stereo be somewhat the source. What is the best way to find the drain?Help!
Thnx,
\D

PS: The fuel pump is NOT running!
« Last Edit: April 14, 2020, 07:09:06 am by Donster »
Logged
Life is good!

GTRS Fiero

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 12,510
  • It is what it is.
    • View Profile
Re: Best way to find a power drain
« Reply #1 on: April 14, 2020, 07:23:49 am »
You can pull fuses, until the source is located.  If you're in a hurry, set your multimeter to amps, and connect it in place of the fuse.  If you see more than a few milliamps, you found a drain.

It could be a short.
« Last Edit: April 14, 2020, 07:33:58 am by GTRS Fiero »
Logged

Donster

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2,042
    • View Profile
Re: Best way to find a power drain
« Reply #2 on: April 14, 2020, 07:30:47 am »
Thnx
Logged
Life is good!

GTRS Fiero

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 12,510
  • It is what it is.
    • View Profile
Re: Best way to find a power drain
« Reply #3 on: April 17, 2020, 07:34:22 pm »
Did anything turn up?
Logged

Donster

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2,042
    • View Profile
Re: Best way to find a power drain
« Reply #4 on: April 19, 2020, 10:05:19 am »
Have not had a chance to test yet
Logged
Life is good!

Donster

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2,042
    • View Profile
Re: Best way to find a power drain
« Reply #5 on: April 21, 2020, 03:59:29 am »
Turns out, it was the battery (just 6 weeks old, by BOSCH). It would charge (14.3 V), but as soon as you try to start the engine, it woulkd drop down to .5 V.New batteryy, all good.
 
Logged
Life is good!

GTRS Fiero

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 12,510
  • It is what it is.
    • View Profile
Re: Best way to find a power drain
« Reply #6 on: April 21, 2020, 08:10:52 am »
That's about the best outcome you could have.
Logged

Fierofool

  • Global Moderator
  • *****
  • Posts: 10,589
    • View Profile
    • Georgia Fiero Club
Re: Best way to find a power drain
« Reply #7 on: April 21, 2020, 09:31:27 am »
Quote from: Donster on April 21, 2020, 03:59:29 am
Turns out, it was the battery (just 6 weeks old, by BOSCH). It would charge (14.3 V), but as soon as you try to start the engine, it woulkd drop down to .5 V.New batteryy, all good.

Yeah, you know they get that German stuff from China, don't you?  :)   Honestly, though, I was just shopping for Bosch fuel injectors for my car and most of them came from China. 
Logged
There are three kinds of men:

1.    The ones that learn by reading.
2.    The few who learn by observation.
3.    The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence and find out for themselves.    Will Rogers

Roger

  • Paid Members
  • *****
  • Posts: 834
  • If it’s the thought that counts, think money.
    • View Profile
Re: Best way to find a power drain
« Reply #8 on: May 10, 2020, 02:18:52 pm »
Take a 1 amp fuse.
Put it in a socket where high amps would be drawn (power window; etc.)
Is it blown? Good!
Now solder a 12vdc lamp to the back side of the fuse.
With the car NOT RUNNING and ignition OFF, one-by-one insert this into each fuse socket.
When the lamp glows you've found the circuit that's draining your battery.
Logged
You can't fix stupid but, you can adjust it with a 2x4.

GTRS Fiero

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 12,510
  • It is what it is.
    • View Profile
Re: Best way to find a power drain
« Reply #9 on: May 10, 2020, 04:34:45 pm »
The smart fuse comes with the light built in.
Logged

TopNotch

  • The Duke of URL
  • Global Moderator
  • *****
  • Posts: 3,978
    • View Profile
Re: Best way to find a power drain
« Reply #10 on: May 10, 2020, 08:24:37 pm »
Quote from: GTRS Fiero on May 10, 2020, 04:34:45 pm
The smart fuse comes with the light built in.
But you still have to blow it to see the light, and it's a LED, so it will glow on much lower current, perhaps even a normal drain, such as your radio keep alive drain.
Logged
The more complex the mind, the greater the need for the simplicity of play.

GTRS Fiero

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 12,510
  • It is what it is.
    • View Profile
Re: Best way to find a power drain
« Reply #11 on: May 10, 2020, 08:33:36 pm »
No.  It did not blow or glow on the power window circuit.
Logged
Pages: [1]
« previous next »