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Technical => Electrical Tech => Topic started by: Soul on September 22, 2011, 10:39:08 AM

Title: 97 Escort Drains battery overnight
Post by: Soul on September 22, 2011, 10:39:08 AM
OK HELP, I'm at wits end.

I thought for sure this was the alt with a bad diode as I've been a victim of this multiple times in the past. I pulled the alt and hooked bat up, same thing dead next morning. No interior lights to blame. No electrical changes in the last 2 years. Suggestions?
Title: 97 Escort Drains battery overnight
Post by: TOM Renzo on September 22, 2011, 01:02:39 PM
Interesting problem!!!
Title: 97 Escort Drains battery overnight
Post by: RoyLPita on September 22, 2011, 02:11:42 PM
Check and see if lights in the trunk, glove box and under the hood stay on.
Title: 97 Escort Drains battery overnight
Post by: Soul on September 22, 2011, 03:12:13 PM
No trunk or hood light, glove box is maybe.
Title: 97 Escort Drains battery overnight
Post by: softtouch on September 22, 2011, 05:28:27 PM
Remove the negative battery cable. Hook a test light between the negative battery cable and the negative battery post. If it lights, you have a battery drain.
Disconnect stuff and pull fuses until you can isolate what is lighting the light.
Title: 97 Escort Drains battery overnight
Post by: Shadow on September 22, 2011, 05:55:11 PM
Quote from: softtouch;368133
Remove the negative battery cable. Hook a test light between the negative battery cable and the negative battery post. If it lights, you have a battery drain.
Disconnect stuff and pull fuses until you can isolate what is lighting the light.

say what?! that's definitely a new 1 to me
Title: 97 Escort Drains battery overnight
Post by: 20thanniver-ls on September 22, 2011, 06:48:40 PM
Quote from: Shadow;368135
say what?! that's definitely a new 1 to me

 

By disconnecting the negative battery cable and using a test light you can unhook electrical stuff and fuses one by one to try and track down the drain a lot easier. Example, You remove your negative battery cable, jumper your test light from the negative battery post to the disconnected battery cable and it lights up(shows you your drain), you pull fuse 12 and recheck your test light and the light goes off..... so whatever is running off of fuse 12 is causing your drain. Very very nice for finding a battery drain.
Title: 97 Escort Drains battery overnight
Post by: Nytedragon on September 22, 2011, 10:48:02 PM
I had a similar problem once...was a rear defrost relay...just pulled it and added a quick disconnect to the battery for when I needed rear defrost again.