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Battery drains overnight?

Tiny
GW1200RIDER
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
  • 1999 CHRYSLER SEBRING
  • 100,000 MILES
After sitting for 3-4 days, the battery is dead. If I drive every day or two, no problems. I'm wondering what the normal draw is when the car is parked. I am measuring about 200-500 mA after lights etc. Time out. Is this normal?
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2020 AT 7:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
No, its not normal-try 30ma at the most-your too high-track the short circuit
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2020 AT 7:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
GW1200RIDER
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
It appears the ASD fuse (20 amp) is causing at least 120 mA of the draw. What does this fuse control? Should it be providing any current when parked?
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2020 AT 7:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DPOPADUKES
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1999 CHRYSLER SEBRING
  • 150,000 MILES
Battery keeps going dead after 2 days of sitting had the battery replaced twice in 3 months. The garage had the car for 3 weeks. The car starts if you use it ever other day but seat 2 days or longer it goes dead please help thanks dave
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2020 AT 7:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,757 POSTS
Apparently it has a parasitic draw from something now shutting down.

This guide will help

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-battery-dead-overnight

There is a procedure for finding a battery draw like that.

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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Wednesday, July 29th, 2020 AT 7:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
PAMELA MAHOWALD
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
  • 1997 CHRYSLER SEBRING
  • V6
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 87 MILES
There is battery drainage after the door is locked either by a fob or with a key. The fuse has been identified that controls the security system, etc. Of all the things affected by this fuse, the obvious thing is the arming of the security system by locking the driver door.

Is there a way to disarm the security system and leave in tack the door lock by key or fob?
Pam
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2020 AT 7:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,949 POSTS
Hello,

It sounds like the BCM is having an issue which acts as the security system as well probably holding the locks down until the battery is dead.

I would try removing the electrical connectors from the BCM to see if the battery drains down. here is the location.

This guide can help as well.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-battery-dead-overnight

I would remove it and look for water damage.

Check out the diagrams (below). Please let us know what you find.

Cheers, Ken
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2020 AT 7:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
PAMELA MAHOWALD
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Ken, thank you very much for wanting to help with this problem.
By removing the BCM will I still be able to use my key to lock/unlock and my fob to do the same? Will its removal affect any other functions like horn, lights, etc. Which seem to work with the door lock now? Do I need to replace or permanently remove it?
I like the diagram and know where the fuses are at the left end of the dashboard. Do not understand the position of the BCM in relation to the panel of fuses. And what does the plug that is shown pulled out from steering column do and is it necessary to remove it? Is it relevant here at all?
Thank you again for your help.
Pamela Mahowald
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2020 AT 7:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,949 POSTS
Hi Pamela

You can remove the BCM, this is just to test if the battery is not draining down. You cannot drive it or do anything accept let it sit to check the battery.

Here are the fuse panel diagrams you requested and a guide to help check them:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-a-car-fuse

Check out the diagrams (below). Please let us know what happens.

Cheers, Ken
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2020 AT 7:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
PAMELA MAHOWALD
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Well, this is a lot of information that I could not get until now. Thank you so much. I hope we can solve this problem. I know from the internet that Sebring's have a bad wrap for battery draws, if that is really true?
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2020 AT 7:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,949 POSTS
I have not noticed anything more than other cars. Does the car have a CD player? Sometimes the CD can get stuck causing the battery to drain down.
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2020 AT 7:29 PM (Merged)

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