Topic: finding a power drain. How do I do it? (Read 6634 times)

ironcrx · « **on:** June 20, 2010, 12:50:26 PM »

So im going to back to work on the 200sx after taking a break from it for a few weeks (did the b18 swap in the crx)

I got an issue with a power drain again. The battery is dead after a day or two of sitting and it pisses me off. I heard of the trick with a multi meter and fuse pulling but I got a few hang ups with it...

What do I have the multi meter set to? I got one my brother bought me and of course being who he is (works at some high security government contract place) he buys me a multimeter with too much shit to pick from and Im not too familiar with them in the first place.

In the end, some one please explain to me how the fuck to find a power drain.

oh yea: I searched and googled it and found a few things but they werent explained well enough or just didnt apply to my case. I need watered down help

Towdogg · « **Reply #1 on:** June 20, 2010, 01:21:47 PM »

Pretty sure you put the positive from the multi-meter on the negative of the battery.. Then the negative of of the multi-meter on a body ground... Put the multi-meter on volts, then start pulling fuse's... When current drops then you found the promblem...

Say you have it set up like i said... Then you pull the radio fuse and the volts drop... The promblem is with the radio wiring...

Get it?

fysh · « **Reply #2 on:** June 20, 2010, 05:22:43 PM »

Use a battery disconnect tool. Its got a dial or lever on it that disconnects the terminal from the clamp. Put multimeter on the actual terminal and the other lead on the far side of the tool where the clamp is attached to. You should see a drain of < 30 - 50mv depending on how many memory fuctions the car has or stay-awake modules like the security alarm. If its higher than that then you start pulling fuses one at a time until your excessive drain goes away.

lsone_chevelle · « **Reply #3 on:** June 20, 2010, 08:42:35 PM »

post a picture of the multi meter and I'll fucking tell you how

Tim · « **Reply #4 on:** June 21, 2010, 12:41:28 AM »

Quote from: Towdogg on June 20, 2010, 01:21:47 PM

Put the multi-meter on volts, then start pulling fuse's... When current drops ...

No offense but ignore this he mixed shit up.

Multimeter should have a separate terminal for the red lead to measure current. It should say fused 10A or something similar.

Disconnect the positive battery cable, connect the red lead of the multimeter from that fused input to the battery cable of your car. Connect the black lead of the meter to the terminal of the battery.

Turn the multimeter to measure current. If its real fancy you want DC Amps. It will be an A with a solid line over a dashed line, not the A~.

The number you see is the current flow draining your battery. As you pull fuses one by one this will drop. I don't know what is considered normal so try another good car first to compare. Once you find a fuse that makes the number drop see what that fuse is for and see why its using so much power with the car off.

88dx · « **Reply #5 on:** June 21, 2010, 09:58:36 AM »

Disconnect the neg battery cable hook up a test light to the cable you just Disconnect and the Negative post of the battery. The light should be very dim, if its not start pulling fuses until it is.

HiProfile · « **Reply #6 on:** June 24, 2010, 01:25:54 AM »

If you don't mind it sitting for a while, pull all the fuses and add one per day. Measure the battery daily, and when voltage drops noticably you've found the leaker. Sometimes it's as simple as a frayed power wire rubbing on a rusty surface.

skaterdudz02 · « **Reply #7 on:** June 30, 2010, 09:17:46 PM »

Fuck a multimeter.

Disconnect the battery.

Hook up a test light, one end on the neg part of the battery, other on the neg cable end.

Touch the neg terminal end to the battery for 5 seconds.

Pull it away with the test light still connected.

If you have a drain, it will illuminate.

Start pulling fuses one at a time till the light goes away.

Do I need to continue?

Joseph Davis · « **Reply #8 on:** July 02, 2010, 12:10:05 PM »

Quote from: Tim on June 21, 2010, 12:41:28 AM

Quote from: Towdogg on June 20, 2010, 01:21:47 PM
Put the multi-meter on volts, then start pulling fuse's... When current drops ...
No offense but ignore this he mixed shit up.

Multimeter should have a separate terminal for the red lead to measure current. It should say fused 10A or something similar.

Disconnect the positive battery cable, connect the red lead of the multimeter from that fused input to the battery cable of your car. Connect the black lead of the meter to the terminal of the battery.

Turn the multimeter to measure current. If its real fancy you want DC Amps. It will be an A with a solid line over a dashed line, not the A~.

The number you see is the current flow draining your battery. As you pull fuses one by one this will drop. I don't know what is considered normal so try another good car first to compare. Once you find a fuse that makes the number drop see what that fuse is for and see why its using so much power with the car off.

I love you, and want your wife to bear my children.

BoostedSchemes · « **Reply #9 on:** July 02, 2010, 10:57:05 PM »

Quote from: Joseph Davis on July 02, 2010, 12:10:05 PM

Quote from: Tim on June 21, 2010, 12:41:28 AM
Quote from: Towdogg on June 20, 2010, 01:21:47 PM
Put the multi-meter on volts, then start pulling fuse's... When current drops ...
No offense but ignore this he mixed shit up.

Multimeter should have a separate terminal for the red lead to measure current. It should say fused 10A or something similar.

Disconnect the positive battery cable, connect the red lead of the multimeter from that fused input to the battery cable of your car. Connect the black lead of the meter to the terminal of the battery.

Turn the multimeter to measure current. If its real fancy you want DC Amps. It will be an A with a solid line over a dashed line, not the A~.

The number you see is the current flow draining your battery. As you pull fuses one by one this will drop. I don't know what is considered normal so try another good car first to compare. Once you find a fuse that makes the number drop see what that fuse is for and see why its using so much power with the car off.

I love you, and want your wife to bear my children.

You can probably work out some sort of deal, but as the attorney in charge I am going to have to ask for your daughters hand in marriage as part of the deal. I can throw in three (3) soviet built multimeters, the likes of which you americans have never beheld. I would also like some aspirin.

Joseph Davis · « **Reply #10 on:** July 03, 2010, 12:57:20 AM »

Quote from: BoostedSchemes on July 02, 2010, 10:57:05 PM

Quote from: Joseph Davis on July 02, 2010, 12:10:05 PM
Quote from: Tim on June 21, 2010, 12:41:28 AM
Quote from: Towdogg on June 20, 2010, 01:21:47 PM
Put the multi-meter on volts, then start pulling fuse's... When current drops ...
No offense but ignore this he mixed shit up.

Multimeter should have a separate terminal for the red lead to measure current. It should say fused 10A or something similar.

Disconnect the positive battery cable, connect the red lead of the multimeter from that fused input to the battery cable of your car. Connect the black lead of the meter to the terminal of the battery.

Turn the multimeter to measure current. If its real fancy you want DC Amps. It will be an A with a solid line over a dashed line, not the A~.

The number you see is the current flow draining your battery. As you pull fuses one by one this will drop. I don't know what is considered normal so try another good car first to compare. Once you find a fuse that makes the number drop see what that fuse is for and see why its using so much power with the car off.

I love you, and want your wife to bear my children.

You can probably work out some sort of deal, but as the attorney in charge I am going to have to ask for your daughters hand in marriage as part of the deal. I can throw in three (3) soviet built multimeters, the likes of which you americans have never beheld. I would also like some aspirin.

I've told you several times, my daughter would destroy you. I'm not being overprotective of her, Yuriy, I'm being rationally protective of you.

That, and she's told me you look like a retard the two times I showed her pictures of you. She wants to know what's up with your beak and turtle waxed dome. FYI.

Tim · « **Reply #11 on:** July 03, 2010, 07:35:31 AM »

We're driving through charlotte the 30th and 7th when shall she move in? She's a damn good cook though the deal would have to be nice

BoostedSchemes · « **Reply #12 on:** July 03, 2010, 01:19:57 PM »

turtle waxed dome? nigga please, stop deluding yourself that she'll turn down a blank check

no woman has before

Joseph Davis · « **Reply #13 on:** July 03, 2010, 04:32:06 PM »

Quote from: Tim on July 03, 2010, 07:35:31 AM

We're driving through charlotte the 30th and 7th when shall she move in? She's a damn good cook though the deal would have to be nice

The food may be good, but it's still a woman to put up with. I'll take her off your hands for free, but you'll need to drop her off the later of those two dates as I have to procure accommodations for her to stay in (doghouse in the back yard).

ironcrx · « **Reply #14 on:** July 06, 2010, 08:53:21 PM »

Thanks niggers. I found that shit. The cigarette lighter has a light inside of it. It was knocked loose and still draining power for some reason while the car was off. Redid the wiring for it, put it back in its place, and now all is well.

LS1pwNzJ00 · « **Reply #15 on:** July 08, 2010, 02:50:59 AM »

ITT: attempted courtship of noodles.

jay · « **Reply #16 on:** July 08, 2010, 03:02:45 AM »

i hoooope, i never have a... daughter.
i hoooope, i never have a... daughter.

mycarslow · « **Reply #17 on:** July 13, 2010, 01:02:35 AM »

Buy a tool called s fuse buddy . Mine was like 10 bucks off the mac dude. One side goes to neg post other goes to the cable. At my shop we say .01-.04 a is ok the fuse deal only reads that way so u can't fuck it up. If its highr then that pull ONE fuse at a time till u get there .

DasPoop · « **Reply #18 on:** July 27, 2010, 03:56:30 PM »

gonna chime in with some wacky random advise i had a power drain that drove me crazy found out the started solonoid was shorted slightly and was bleading of power to ground. so fuses are a great idea but sometimes you have to think outside the box

Joseph Davis · « **Reply #19 on:** July 27, 2010, 05:40:06 PM »

Quote from: jay on July 08, 2010, 03:02:45 AM

i hoooope, i never have a... daughter.
i hoooope, i never have a... daughter.

Buk, rest assured you will never reproduce. Women abhor you, which has nothing to do with the fact you are a closet homosexual.

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Author Topic: finding a power drain. How do I do it? (Read 6634 times)