Battery draining overnight

[Mike D]

My new to me 06 expedition isnt holding a charge. Replaced battery 2 weeks ago. About a week ago I had to jump start the expy if it sits for more than 4-6 hours. Initially I figured it was just the extreme cold but it seems to be at any temp. After I jump start it the voltage indicator on dash is showing a normal charge. I can drive around all day but if it sits for more tha. 6 hours I have to jump start it. Any ideas....electrical is not a strong suit for me so I am a bit stumped.

 

[bedrck46]

First being electrical isn't your strong suit this could get to be fun or frustrating but lets try. One thing it could be is a problem with your alternator going bad and causing a heavy amp draw or it could be other circuits. You would need a good meter that can read DC amps and milli amps. If you have a sears store close to you they carry a clamp on meter that can read DC amps cost is around $50.00

What you would do is place the clamp-on meter around the battery lead and have the meter scale on DC amps using the 50 amp range to see what your amp draw is with the engine off. Let me know if you want to go further with this

 

[bedrck46]

Another option would be to take it to auto zone or advanced auto and let them know that you suspect that the alternator is causing your battery to drain overnight and if they can test the amp draw of your system.

How many miles are on the expy?

 

[Mike D]

just turned 110K. one thing i forgot to post earlier was that I disconnected the battery last night (negative terminal) and it fired up this morning. I reconnected it this morning and it started right up, but about 4 hours later it was completely dead.

 

[bedrck46]

It sounds as though you have a bad alternator Not 100% sure but most likely can you get it to advanced auto to see if the alt. is bad

 

[Mike D]

Taking it to autozone to have it tested...after i jump start it of course

 

[bedrck46]

Kindly post a update and hopefully that solves your problem.
To disconnect your battery is ok but it also causes the computer to reset and then has to go thru the relearn process.

 

[Mike D]

Just got back from Autozone. Tested battery and alternator 3 times. Battery tested bad 2 of the three times and alternator tested at about 14.2. They replaced the battery so I guess I just wait and see if it was the battery or if it is something else. I ran the engine for about 25 minutes before it was tested.

 

[bedrck46]

Little confused but you said you replaced the battery two weeks ago Was it a new battery? When you disconnected the battery last night was there a big spark or just a slight spark when the cable was removed and reconnected

 

[Mike D]

It was a new battery two weeks ago. There wasn't much of a spark when I disconnected it

 

[bedrck46]

OK if there was a bigger spark then I would say that something was drawing to many amps Hopefully it was a bad battery and the new one solves the problem

 

[kwyorman]

I had this problem for a while. It turned out that the overhead gas computer/map display wasn't turning off when I got out of the truck. I took out fuse #6 under the dash and fixed it. There is a circuit burned up in the compass display that allows everything to work, it just doesn't go dim when it should. It was caused by a small leak from the windshield or sunroof. Sorry for the long winded post. Just thought I'd put my 39 cents in.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[bedrck46]

http://www.expeditionforum.com/f41/battery-draining-overnight-22827/index2.html#post185315

Thanks for the input something else to check

 

[Mike D]

Autozone replaced the battery last week and so far its been holding up. With warmer temps and a new battery its been starting as it should. If the battery drain happens again, I will definitely start with fuses and look at the alternator.

 

[bedrck46]

Thanks for the update

 

[Mike D]

Well it turns out the drain on the battery was the rear wiper motor. After not driving it over the weekend, it was completely dead. After a bit of trouble shooting I was able to narrow down the problem to the rear window wiper motor. The motor was seized. After a bit of research on the interwebs, it seems to be a common problem. I disconnected the motor and haven't had a problem since Monday, when I had to jump start it twice.

 

[bedrck46]

That would be a good reason to check the amp draw on the battery when the vehicle is turned off There is a normal amount of amp draw but anything over that normal amount would indicate a problem somewhere

 

[guitarsmark]

Am gonna try this... had my battery tested, was doing the same thing... battery is ok. but I noticed that this started happening, just after my rear wiper motor seized... real frustrating in -20C having to disconnect the battery... Thanks for the read, and sorry to hijack. I'll let y'all know if the same happens with mine.

 

[bedrck46]

guitarsmark Try pulling the fuse for the rear wiper motor until you get the motor repaired or replaced

 

[guitarsmark]

Thanks Bedrck46, did that a few days ago, fixed the problem...