Will the compressor drain the battery

[reklaw]

2008 King Ranch with 160k. While camping back in July and after not driving it for about a day I had a completely dead battery. Jumped no problem and instantly reading around 12 volts. But not near the 14 that I know it should probably read. I had left my monitor for my review view RV camera plugged in and thought that maybe that caused the drain. Advance Auto tested the battery for me and everything showed good. Now just this week, I didn't drive it at all on Wednesday and Thursday morning completely dead. I throw it on the charger for a bit and it starts right up and voltage is showing ~12. I was near an Autozone so I pulled and and they tested and while they said the battery showed good it was also only at 71% capacity. Well I was watching the voltage on my aftermarket head unit then and yeah, it never got very high. Just this morning I stopped at Batteries+ and they said the cold cranking amps were showing a little low.

So, I've pretty much decided to replace the battery since it is in fact 3 years old. The only reason I was hesitating is because I was wondering if it could be the air compressor for the auto-level running and draining the battery. I knew I had the compressor run while it was off but key in ignition but I wasn't sure if it would run just sitting. Well, I was just unbolting the batter hold down to get it ready to take out and the air compressor kicked on. The keys were in my pocket.

So my question. Is the air compressor supposed to run when parked? If so should there be a safety that it won't drain the battery? Also, I know some might say if the compressor is running that much I have another issue and I know, I have to deal with the auto-level issues but that's for a later time.

 

[99WhiteC5Coupe]

2008 King Ranch with 160k. While camping back in July and after not driving it for about a day I had a completely dead battery. Jumped no problem and instantly reading around 12 volts. But not near the 14 that I know it should probably read. I had left my monitor for my review view RV camera plugged in and thought that maybe that caused the drain. Advance Auto tested the battery for me and everything showed good. Now just this week, I didn't drive it at all on Wednesday and Thursday morning completely dead. I throw it on the charger for a bit and it starts right up and voltage is showing ~12. I was near an Autozone so I pulled and and they tested and while they said the battery showed good it was also only at 71% capacity. Well I was watching the voltage on my aftermarket head unit then and yeah, it never got very high. Just this morning I stopped at Batteries+ and they said the cold cranking amps were showing a little low.

So, I've pretty much decided to replace the battery since it is in fact 3 years old. The only reason I was hesitating is because I was wondering if it could be the air compressor for the auto-level running and draining the battery. I knew I had the compressor run while it was off but key in ignition but I wasn't sure if it would run just sitting. Well, I was just unbolting the batter hold down to get it ready to take out and the air compressor kicked on. The keys were in my pocket.

So my question. Is the air compressor supposed to run when parked? If so should there be a safety that it won't drain the battery? Also, I know some might say if the compressor is running that much I have another issue and I know, I have to deal with the auto-level issues but that's for a later time.

Did you read the Air Suspension System section in your vehicle owner’s manual?

It has the answer to the question you posed.

 

[BigOleFordFan]

40 minutes seems like a long time IMO...but the one on my 011 EL only runs occasionally for about 5-10 mins after I turn the ignition off.....I thought it was weird at first, since I've never had a vehicle with Air Ride before, but now I just ignore it

Perhaps it could be adjusted in Forscan ?

 

[reklaw]

No, the only part of the manual I read about the air suspension was for weight distribution. Now it makes me wonder how long I was home before the compressor kicked on.
Either way I am going to replace the battery.

 

[GlennSullivan]

Another good Idea is if you are not driving the vehicle daily is to keep it on a Battery Tender / Maintainer.

Batteries are not what they used to be and will not generally completely recover from a full discharge.

We have one for each of our vehicles with quick connects installed (pop the hood connect the quick connect - done) after having things like this happen to vehicles that are not driven for awhile and or leaving a device like radar detector on.

 

[Eddie Hudson]

It sounds like your alternator is not working. With the car running you should be getting 13 - 14.3 volts, not 12.1v

 

[purevw]

I agree with Eddie Hudson. Alternator output (vehicle voltage when running) should be 13.8 to 14.1V. Autozone should have been checking your charging system as well as your battery. It's quite natural for a half charged battery to go flat quickly.

 

[reklaw]

Another good Idea is if you are not driving the vehicle daily is to keep it on a Battery Tender / Maintainer.

Batteries are not what they used to be and will not generally completely recover from a full discharge.

We have one for each of our vehicles with quick connects installed (pop the hood connect the quick connect - done) after having things like this happen to vehicles that are not driven for awhile and or leaving a device like radar detector on.

This is my daily driver. It's only so often that I go a day without driving it.

 

[GlennSullivan]

This is my daily driver. It's only so often that I go a day without driving it.

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