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Radio and my gauges fuse seems to be drawing power

Tiny
TEDDY SHARKEY
  • MEMBER
  • 1999 JEEP WRANGLER TJ
  • 4.0L
  • V6
  • 4WD
  • MANUAL
  • 157 MILES
I did the test light and found the fuse that is drawing the power it seems to operate my radio and my gauges. It is in the power distribution box under the hood and it is not the factory radio so I pulled it out and the light on the tester was still on. It is a mini fuse I pulled the fuse out in the picture. It is in the middle between the 10 amp and 20 amp. Thanks
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Wednesday, October 12th, 2016 AT 5:06 AM

19 Replies

Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,757 POSTS
You cannot use a test light to look for a draw in today's cars. They all have some degree of acceptable current draw that needs to be specifically measured.

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 ten minutes to expire all the automatic timers. Now remove the jumper wire and read the meter. Anything over 50 ma 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, October 12th, 2016 AT 5:14 AM
Tiny
TEDDY SHARKEY
  • MEMBER
  • 13 POSTS
Thanks, I will try it this weekend.
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Wednesday, October 12th, 2016 AT 5:51 AM
Tiny
TEDDY SHARKEY
  • MEMBER
  • 13 POSTS
Well the way I tested it. I unhooked the negative battery post hooked up one end of the test light to the negative cable and the other end to the negative post with key off and doors shut hood light unplugged. Then I had a dimmed light on the test light then I opened the door to see if it was working properly. The light got brighter when I opened the door. So I started pulling fuses and when I got to that fuse the light went off.
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Wednesday, October 12th, 2016 AT 6:01 AM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,757 POSTS
I know exactly what you did and I am telling you that method will not tell you what you need to know. That was fine before they filled the car up with computers and modules.
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Wednesday, October 12th, 2016 AT 6:52 AM
Tiny
TEDDY SHARKEY
  • MEMBER
  • 13 POSTS
Okay.
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Wednesday, October 12th, 2016 AT 7:33 AM
Tiny
TEDDY SHARKEY
  • MEMBER
  • 13 POSTS
Let me ask you this could it be a bad relay?
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Wednesday, October 12th, 2016 AT 7:35 AM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,757 POSTS
Sure, that and a hundred other things.
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Wednesday, October 12th, 2016 AT 7:46 AM
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,004 POSTS
See several videos on "You Tube"(some explain better than others), Look for "Parasitic Draw", Maybe you do not have a problem at all!

If you do "find" a draw using their methods, return here with the circuit name (or location) We may be able to find you a diagram showing all of the goodies on that circuit so you can check each one.

If you have add on accessories straight off of the battery you may need to test them separately.

Return with any news!

The Medic
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Wednesday, October 12th, 2016 AT 6:34 PM
Tiny
TEDDY SHARKEY
  • MEMBER
  • 13 POSTS
I am going to try a new battery.
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Wednesday, October 12th, 2016 AT 6:56 PM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,757 POSTS
The battery should have been the first thing tested before suspecting any draw.
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Wednesday, October 12th, 2016 AT 7:06 PM
Tiny
TEDDY SHARKEY
  • MEMBER
  • 13 POSTS
Well, I have two batteries and the same thing happened to both. I already changed the alternator.
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Wednesday, October 12th, 2016 AT 7:10 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,895 POSTS
Does your radio have a CD player and if so is there a CD stuck? Also there is an amp under th seat try unplugging it and check for the draw.

Here is a guide that might help

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

Please let us know what you find so it will help others.

Best, Ken
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Friday, October 14th, 2016 AT 11:58 PM
Tiny
TEDDY SHARKEY
  • MEMBER
  • 13 POSTS
K. This is what I got changed battery new alternator did the test with the volt meter and got this. It goes up to 0.49 is that enough to drain my battery? Now if I pull the fuse I got in the first pic it goes to 0.00.
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Saturday, October 15th, 2016 AT 8:03 AM
Tiny
TEDDY SHARKEY
  • MEMBER
  • 13 POSTS
Pulled out the radio got it down to 0.18
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Saturday, October 15th, 2016 AT 9:18 AM
Tiny
TEDDY SHARKEY
  • MEMBER
  • 13 POSTS
I found out what is was a GPS unit on my jeep. Thanks guys for all your help
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Saturday, October 15th, 2016 AT 11:40 AM
Tiny
TEDDY SHARKEY
  • MEMBER
  • 13 POSTS
Time to start putting it back together
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Saturday, October 15th, 2016 AT 11:44 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,895 POSTS
Yep, sometimes we need to dig into the problem to find it, NEVER quit until the job is done, nice work buddy.

Best, Ken
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Sunday, October 16th, 2016 AT 10:01 AM
Tiny
TEDDY SHARKEY
  • MEMBER
  • 13 POSTS
I appreciate it.
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Sunday, October 16th, 2016 AT 11:53 AM

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