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Battery drains down overnight

Tiny
JOHN SCHWARTZ
  • MEMBER
  • 1998 GMC JIMMY
  • V8
  • TURBO
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 140,000 MILES
I have read all the inputs concerning battery drain. I am getting a 480 mil amp draw ignition off. I have done all the test and come down to the rdo ckt drawing 480 mil amp when all is shut down. There is no timing out of this ckt. I have read several inputs saying there should be a shut off of this ckt after some time and this is controlled by a control module. This problem just started happening about two or three weeks ago and nothing had been changed on the vehicle. I have replace the battery and the alternator. I do think the alternator was bad for the dash and radio lights started to have a twinkle to them. This also happened in a Caravan and was solved by replacing the alternator. I replaced the alternator in this vehicle and the twinkling of the instrument display went away. Where is this module and is it replaceable? It is not turbo equipt. The interior lights do time out after a minute or two.
Thanks,
John
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Tuesday, October 29th, 2019 AT 12:38 PM

40 Replies

Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Good afternoon.

If you disconnect the radio, does the drain drop to 50-75 milliamps?

Roy
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Tuesday, October 29th, 2019 AT 12:55 PM
Tiny
JOHN SCHWARTZ
  • MEMBER
  • 18 POSTS
Roy thanks for the quick response. I will try to disconnect the radio for I am not that limber any more to get the radio. I will let you know when I accomplish this task.
John
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Tuesday, October 29th, 2019 AT 3:44 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
You are welcome.

Keep me updated.

Roy
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Tuesday, October 29th, 2019 AT 4:05 PM
Tiny
JOHN SCHWARTZ
  • MEMBER
  • 18 POSTS
I have looked into removing the multi wire connector going to the radio and see that the dash has to just about be removed. Can you suggest a way of getting to the 12 volt connector on the back of the radio in a more convenient way? Thanks for the advice.
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Friday, November 1st, 2019 AT 9:58 AM
Tiny
JOHN SCHWARTZ
  • MEMBER
  • 18 POSTS
Oh, while I have your attention what is the diode on the under the hood fuse block for?
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Friday, November 1st, 2019 AT 9:59 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Procedure for removal.

It is for the AC clutch.

Roy

REMOVAL PROCEDURE

CAUTION: Refer to Battery Disconnect Caution in Cautions and Notices.

1. Disconnect the battery negative cable.
2. Remove the instrument panel accessory trim plate.
3. Remove the radio mounting screws.
4. Remove the radio.
5. Disconnect the electrical connector and the antenna lead.

INSTALLATION PROCEDURE
1. Connect the electrical connector and the antenna lead.
2. Install the radio.
3. Install the radio mounting screws.

Tighten
Tighten the screws to 1.9 N.M (17 lb in).
Image (Click to make bigger)
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+1
Friday, November 1st, 2019 AT 10:16 AM
Tiny
JOHN SCHWARTZ
  • MEMBER
  • 18 POSTS
I guess I will put my cutting torch down and do it the way your recommend. Have a great weekend.
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Friday, November 1st, 2019 AT 11:54 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Kep me updated.

Roy
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Friday, November 1st, 2019 AT 12:05 PM
Tiny
JOHN SCHWARTZ
  • MEMBER
  • 18 POSTS
Roy, I surely will keep you updated to my solution. Right now I think I am going to replace the radio with an up to date one seeing this one is about 20 years old. I will see if the current drain problem is solved when I take the old radio out.I see so since in pulling the old radio for troubleshooting the problem without just going ahead and replacing it. If it is the problem it needs to be replaced and if it is not the problem it is replaced by being too old. Just like me.

I'll keep you informed of my findings. Thanks for the assistance.
John
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Saturday, November 2nd, 2019 AT 2:36 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
You are welcome.

Always glad to help.

Roy
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Saturday, November 2nd, 2019 AT 2:39 PM
Tiny
JOHN SCHWARTZ
  • MEMBER
  • 18 POSTS
Roy, I should have realized about the diode for I have placed many Peak Inverse Voltage diodes in test equipment that uses small relays. We put them across the coil in reverse polarity and the eliminated the driver transistors being blown by the PIV generated by the relay coil. I had to replace several alternators in a 62 Plymouth Valient due to the diodes being blown out caused by an aftermarket air conditioning unit in the car. People did not think about this seeing this was the first car to use an alternator,
Thanks for the reply.
John
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Saturday, November 2nd, 2019 AT 2:58 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
You are welcome.

Roy
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-1
Saturday, November 2nd, 2019 AT 3:01 PM
Tiny
JOHN SCHWARTZ
  • MEMBER
  • 18 POSTS
Well here I am back again. I disconnected the radio as well as an aftermarket CD player and still have this 475 mil battery draw. Do you have any more suggestions? Any and all will help.
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Sunday, November 17th, 2019 AT 2:21 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Did you remove all the fuses one by one? If you did, then it has to do with something not fuse controlled such as the alternator.

Roy
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Sunday, November 17th, 2019 AT 2:31 PM
Tiny
JOHN SCHWARTZ
  • MEMBER
  • 18 POSTS
I removed each fuse one by one in the fuse compartment under the hood as well as inside of the car on the left side of the dashboard next to the instrument panel. When the fuse which controls the constant 12 volts to the radio and the instrument cluster this 470 mil amp drain goes away. I removed the connector going to the radio and the current draw is still there.I have replaced the alternator. When I replace the fuse the tachometer, speedometer and I think another gauge jumped. How and where is the control for these items? I am about to change the radio power to another fuse and put an on off switch in the existing power to the radio and just turn off this ckt when I park the vehicle. I have noticed several inquires about this same problem but do not see anyone answering with a solution to the problem.
Thank,
John
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Monday, November 18th, 2019 AT 11:02 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
What did the draw drop to when you removed the fuse?

Roy
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Monday, November 18th, 2019 AT 11:12 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
What was the fuse number so I can find out what is on that circuit?

Roy
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Monday, November 18th, 2019 AT 11:13 AM
Tiny
JOHN SCHWARTZ
  • MEMBER
  • 18 POSTS
It is fuse number 19 in the lower-left position of the fuse bank and is labeled as RDO/BATT and is 15 amps
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Monday, November 18th, 2019 AT 1:24 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Okay, again, what did the draw drop to with the fuse out?

Roy
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Monday, November 18th, 2019 AT 1:30 PM
Tiny
JOHN SCHWARTZ
  • MEMBER
  • 18 POSTS
This is a confusing question. With the fuse out there would be no current in the ckt. When I put my amp meter in that is acting like a fuse and completes the ckt. The amp meter then reads 470 mil draw. With the fuse in and the radio out there is still the 470 mil draw. The fuse is labeled RDO battery but there has to be something on the line beside the radio.
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Monday, November 18th, 2019 AT 1:56 PM

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