Archived Electrical Problems/Battery Draws

[Taylor]

I have a 2004 Dodge. I am having problems with the electrical system. After the truck sits for 2 or more days the batteries are dead. Both batteries are new and the charging systems is putting the correct voltage out. There is a draw comning from some where. I think it may be the security system or a bad clock spring assembly. I have pulled the fuse for the horn because is goes off constantly. I can't believe that a bad clock spring is running the battery down that fast when the fuse is not even in. Has anyone else had problems with intermittent draws?

 

[Hoefler]

If you have pulled the fuse for the horn going off constantly, I would look at the horn relay. See if it is getting voltage to it from the horn button, or if the contacts are welded shut. If you have a stuck button that keeps the relay closed, that is your draw. Pulling the horn fuse just kills the voltage used to sound the horn, not to activate it. If this doesn't cure it, disconnect both batteries. Hook one battery positive up and install a test light between the negative cable and the battery post. If you have a draw, the light will be on. Now start pulling fuses or disconnecting components until the light goes out. The light may not go out completely, it may go real dim. That is OK, because there is keep alive circuits for the clock, radio memory, and maybe for the ECM ( not sure ), etc. . You can install a meter instead of a light to measure amp draw. Keep alive circuits usually draw less than a 0. 1 of an amp.

 

[drpbx]

I sure did!!! Then my son's friend said when his uncle had a similar problem that it was the light under the hood staying on. I thought that was too easy but what have I got to lose. So I disconnected the light under the hood, easy enough there's a conc. at the light, and haven't had the problem since.

 

[DPapworth]

As Hoefler said, check the horn relay.

If the horn won't shut off, the horn relay is probably being held on, most likely due to a problem in the steering column. The relay coil draws about 100 ma, the coil by itself is enough to drain your batteries in a couple of days. You'll need to find and fix the problem with the horn button, or remove the horn relay from the truck.

Each time you draw your batteries down this far, you weaken/damage them, so you should get this fixed.