How to Perform a Parasitic Draw Test

Maybe you installed a new battery or alternator and now your vehicle won't starting time. Maybe your car battery dies overnight, later sitting for a few days, or keeps dying but the alternator and bombardment is good. If your battery keeps dying when you lot try to start your vehicle and you lot know information technology's in good condition, chances are a parasitic depict is draining the battery from a lite or a module that may be stuck on. This mail service explains how to perform a parasitic draw exam with a tester tool and a multimeter to observe out what'southward draining the battery and how to fix it.

Perform a parasitic draw test and fix the cause yourself with quality auto parts and tools at 1aauto.com

How to Perform a Parasitic Draw Test in 9 Steps

Steps for Performing a Parasitic Depict Exam

  1. Charge the Battery

    Accuse the battery with a battery charger or make sure the battery is charged before beginning

  2. Find a Battery Shut Off Tool or Parasitic Describe Tester Tool

    Yous will need a battery close off tool or a parasitic describe tester. This tool basically fits between the battery and the negative battery cable. It requires yous to route test the vehicle with all the electronics on, such as the radio, heating and air workout, prowl control, and connect a multimeter to either end of the tool to get a reading without disrupting the modules.

  3. Remove the Fuse Panel Covers

    Remove the fuse console covers to access them easily.

  4. Close the Door Latches or Dome Light Switches

    If the vehicle has dome lights connected to the latch, close the latches. If you have a dome light switch, push these downward too.

  5. Connect the Multimeter to the Close off Tool

    Connect the multimeter to the tool. Each multimeter is unlike, merely connect the positive pb to the 10 amp max fuse setting. Set the punch to milliamps. Hook a lead to each side of the tool (doesn't matter which side).

  6. Let the Modules Ability Downwards

    Yous want the modules to power down before opening the switch on the tool or else it volition put a depict on the battery, which is normal. On older vehicles it takes most 10 minutes for the modules to power downward. On newer vehicles information technology could take up to an hr for the vehicles to power downwardly.

  7. Open the Switch and Take a Reading

    Open the switch on the parasitic draw tester tool. Read the reading of milliamps on the screen. Wait up to 10 minutes to an hour to run into if the reading falls below 30 milliamps.

    If lights are on the reading can exist much college.

    Don't open any doors or unlatch any latched door latches while the multimeter is taking a reading or information technology could accident a fuse in the meter.

  8. Remove 1 Fuse at a Time

    To find out where the draw is originating, remove i fuse at a time and check the meter. If the reading falls, that fuse's circuit is probably causing the parasitic draw.

    When reinserting the fuse, depending on what circuit it is in, it may turn on a module on and yous may have to wait a minute or ii if the reading spikes. If it significantly spikes or drops, y'all'll probably have to await another x minutes for the module ability down earlier pulling the adjacent fuse.

    Nosotros recommend pulling one fuse per circuit to save hassle when reinstalling the fuses.

  9. Check Any Fuse's Circuits with Low Readings

    If the reading drops beneath the fuse'south amps, check that excursion by reconnecting the fuse to the circuit and disconnecting the suspected function from the excursion. If the parasitic drawing stops, that part is the cause.

Related Content

  • The Battery or Alternator?
  • Why Exercise Car Batteries Die in Cold Weather?
  • How to Test a Fuse with a Multimeter

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Summary

Car Battery Keeps Dying? How to Perform a Parasitic Draw Test

Commodity Name

Car Battery Keeps Dying? How to Perform a Parasitic Describe Exam

Clarification

A automobile battery with parasitic draw volition keep dying overnight, every few days, or whenever y'all start when you know information technology's in proficient status. This post explains how to perform a parasitic draw test and set up the cause of a parasitic draw.

Writer

1A Machine Team

Publisher Name

1A Car

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