Battery Drain tried to pull fuse?

Tiny
SIXTY6GTO
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 JAGUAR XK8
  • 4.0L
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 129,000 MILES
Car has battery drain. Already tried to pull fuses one at a time with volt meter or test light and could not isolate the circuit. It seems that the instrument cluster could be involved in the cause of the drain. Are there any common areas that are causes of battery drain on this model car? I have to re-ask this question as my original question got deleted or erased somehow.
Friday, January 2nd, 2026 AT 12:11 AM

7 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 54,877 POSTS
Hello,

Hmm, I have seen the AC compressor control relay stick on and drain the battery in these cars. But, I would check the glove box light and the trunk light. The cluster does use fuse #18 in the driver side fuse panel which is hot all the time so if you remove this fuse the raw should stop if the cluster is the issue. Here is a great guide on how to find the draw and the most popular items to cause the draw.

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

Here is the location of the AC compressor clutch relay so you can remove it to see if the draw stops as well. Check out the images (below). Let us know how it goes

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Friday, January 2nd, 2026 AT 10:43 AM
Tiny
SIXTY6GTO
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Pulled the Ac relay. Verified the glove box and trunk are not the issue. Before the Ac relay was pulled the battery voltage was 12.79. I checked the voltage 23 hrs later (with the ac relay removed), the volts dropped to 12.31. What do you think?
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Sunday, January 4th, 2026 AT 8:54 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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How old is the battery? I would run the car and then disconnect the battery and wait a day or so and do the voltage readings again. 12.31 is a little low for a battery at rest. It may not have the cold cranking amps to start the engine.
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Monday, January 5th, 2026 AT 9:35 AM
Tiny
SIXTY6GTO
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Hi Ken, Can you supply me with the electrical schematic for the circuit that the AC compressor clutch relay is in please. Thanks
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Monday, January 5th, 2026 AT 4:42 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Sure here you go, did the engine start after you pulled the AC compressor relay? Check out the images (below). Let us know how it goes
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Wednesday, January 7th, 2026 AT 11:35 AM
Tiny
SIXTY6GTO
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It started fine after pulling the A/C relay. The car was driven and when parked the battery read 12.37. Came back to the garage 2 1/2 hours later and the voltage read 13.16. The car has been sitting approximately 3 days since then and I will check the voltage again and start the car and let you know. I will get back to you soon with that information. Update. I just checked checked the battery voltage after approximately 3 days of the car sitting and it is 12.31. Also, The car starts right up normal. With car running its 14.17 and headlights auto on. I ran the car for 4 minutes and then shut the car off. The voltage reading with car off was 13.05.
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Thursday, January 8th, 2026 AT 4:55 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Nice, so it sounds like the AC compressor relay was stuck closed and the battery drain is gone, good work :)
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Friday, January 9th, 2026 AT 9:23 AM

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