1999 Oldsmobile Alero Battery drain

MD11MN

MEMBER
1999 OLDSMOBILE ALERO
4 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
130,000 MILES

The battery went dead (when parked over night- with nothing left on to drain it). Took it in and there seems to be a problem with the electrical or wiring. They told me it's fuse H of the 10amp fuses in the driver side fuse box.

They aren't sure what is wrong with it except that, that particular fuse seems to be draining the battery. Even when the car is turned off and just parked.

I'm wondering what that fuse is responsible for, if I need to have it in when I drive and what might be the actual problem?

Any ideas?

Thanks so much!

4 Replies

JOSHUA.OCONNOR

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Have the same problem 99 olds alero (.7 amp draw when car is off). Traced through a 30 amp fuse under hood. Then the 10 amp fuse on drivers side (bottom fuse, for instrument cluster and a/c). When I removed this 10 amp fuse the draw went down to.02 amp (reasonable draw). I then disconnected the instrument cluster and found same results. I have not yet changed the instrument cluster, but I'm confident that is my problem. For now I pull the 10 amp fuse on drivers side when I park and have had no problems.

SPONSORED LINKS

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

No

-1

Friday, August 12th, 2011 AT 2:45 AM

JDL

MECHANIC
16,098 POSTS

Fuse H is for the bcm. Be careful about jumping to conclusions. Info below.

Image (Click to make bigger)

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

No

+1

Monday, September 12th, 2011 AT 2:41 PM

JOSHUA.OCONNOR

MEMBER
2 POSTS

You are right about jumping to conclusions. I did see that is was in the BCM where the power was being consumed. But the BCM was not bad, the problem was actually a loose terminal on the battery. Every vibration would cause the loose terminal to open the circuit and turn off/on the BCM. It takes several minutes for the BCM to "calm down". With the power going on and off constantly, the BCM stayed active using too much power.

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

No

Monday, September 12th, 2011 AT 7:36 PM

JDL