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Tiny
KINKLET
  • MEMBER
  • 1999 DODGE AVENGER
  • 6 CYL
  • AUTOMATIC
My battery keeps getting drained, I just bought a new battery, What could be causing this?
Tuesday, May 10th, 2011 AT 6:10 PM

15 Replies

Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,758 POSTS
Is it being drained while it's parked or while it's being driven?
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Tuesday, May 10th, 2011 AT 6:35 PM
Tiny
FIXITMR
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  • 9,990 POSTS
Relay sticking? Trunk/hood light malfunction? You can disconnect battery cable and put test light in between and then pull fuses 1 by 1 till it goes out/dims. Then find what the fuse is for.
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Tuesday, May 10th, 2011 AT 6:36 PM
Tiny
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It is being darined when it is parked. The windows can be rolled up witout the keys in it after I shut it off. Can this be a reason causing it?
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Tuesday, May 10th, 2011 AT 9:19 PM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
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There is a procedure for finding a battery draw like that.

The test light won't work on the newer cars because they all have some degree of parasitic draw.

You will need a digital ammeter and a jumper wire with clips on the ends to do this.
First rig any door switches so you can have a door open without triggering the interior lights and unplug the hood light. Remove one battery cable and attach the meter in series between the battery cable and battery post. Take the jumper wire and also attach it the same way. Leave the jumper wire on for at least 10 minutes to expire all the automatic timers. Now remove the jumper wire and read the meter. Anything over 50ma is too much draw. The way you locate this is to start removing fuses one at a time until the meter drops to normal level. This will be the circuit with something staying on. Determine what components are part of that circuit and check them individually until the problem is isolated.
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Tuesday, May 10th, 2011 AT 9:22 PM
Tiny
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Ok and if it it the windows causing this, where do I start?
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Tuesday, May 10th, 2011 AT 9:41 PM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
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The windows aren't your problem. They aren't powered with the key off.
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Tuesday, May 10th, 2011 AT 9:43 PM
Tiny
FIXITMR
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He means they shouldn't have power/work with key off/removed.
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Tuesday, May 10th, 2011 AT 9:55 PM
Tiny
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Which means they cannot be the source of a parasitic draw.
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Tuesday, May 10th, 2011 AT 9:57 PM
Tiny
FIXITMR
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Question is now, why do they work with key off/out?
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Tuesday, May 10th, 2011 AT 10:12 PM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
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There is a power window relay under the dash on the drivers side. Try removing it or swapping it with a like relay when you park it.
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Tuesday, May 10th, 2011 AT 10:20 PM
Tiny
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Why would my windows work without keys? I have removed the fuse for the power locks(doors) and also used a box under the battery to keep it from draining so fast. So far it is working. I can now start my car without having it jump started. However, I am not sure how long it will work.
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Wednesday, May 11th, 2011 AT 7:58 PM
Tiny
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I just told you, remove the relay to see if it is stuck on.
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Wednesday, May 11th, 2011 AT 8:12 PM
Tiny
FIXITMR
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Yes, a temp fix is a battery switch you can turn off and on to stop drain while car is parked/off.
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Thursday, May 12th, 2011 AT 5:42 AM
Tiny
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Disconnecting the battery every night would not be a good solution. It would clear all the vehicle's memory including radio stations, memory presets in seats or mirrors and all the adaptives in the PCM which could cause stalling.
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Thursday, May 12th, 2011 AT 11:03 AM
Tiny
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Yes, there's always that TEMPtation to leave the TEMPorary permanent?
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Friday, May 13th, 2011 AT 12:58 AM

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