Volvo 850 GLE battery drain Topic is solved

wlutz · Post by **wlutz** » 30 Nov 2015, 20:58

My 97 Volvo 850 GLE measures a 150ma battery drain with everything turned off. The car is totally stock. Before I chase a problem that may not exist, can anyone tell me if 150ma is a reasonable number? Thanks in advance. Wlutz

Post by **BEJinFbk** » 30 Nov 2015, 21:25

That's about 4x reasonable.
Leave your meter connected
and start pulling and replacing
fuses one at a time.

Post by **misha** » 30 Nov 2015, 23:46

Is it right after turning the engine off?
If so,wait around 10 minutes allowing the car to turn off all relays.

Post by **benpineapple** » 01 Dec 2015, 07:34

Older cell-phones would charge at like 150-300ma typically. Could easily sap your battery after like 24 hours or so. If I were you, I'd leave your meter connected, and pull fuses one-by-one, until one of the fuses drops that 150ma to 20-0ma. That'll be your parasitic drain.

wlutz · Post by **wlutz** » 01 Dec 2015, 11:32

Oops...made a mistake on the previous post. The car is a 850 GLT and not GLE. Is the answer the same? Thanks, wlutz.

Post by **misha** » 01 Dec 2015, 11:33

Yep...GLE is a 10 valve car.

wlutz · Post by **wlutz** » 01 Dec 2015, 15:28

Found 2 suspects. Fuse 6 draws 9ma and fuse 15 draws 100ma. Fuse 6: the locking system, and fuse 15: OBD socket, courtesy lights, door open warning lights, remote operated central locking system. Any hints going forward? Thanks, wlutz

Post by **ZionXIX** » 01 Dec 2015, 18:13

I had a mysterious battery drain in the glove compartment. I set my cell phone to record, then put it in the glove box and shut the door. Over time the door has warped and does not make adequate contact with the switch that turns off my glove box light. It was draining my battery over the course of 2 to 3 days. I ended up getting a trickle charger before I discovered the problem. I pulled the light bulb out. No more battery drain.

wlutz · Post by **wlutz** » 01 Dec 2015, 18:45

I've done the phone in the box trick already...also tested door switches. My next step is to isolate and disable the remote part from the central locking system. I appreciate any and all suggestions. Thanks, wlutz.

wlutz · Post by **wlutz** » 24 Apr 2016, 21:10

I replaced the central locking relay/delayed inside lighting, 205-206, with no change in drain. I tested all the interior lights, then I found that my car has a tilt sensor which is also supplied by fuse 15. Located it in the upper passenger side of the trunk. Disconnected module 7/100 and my current drain remained at 160 ma. Last December I used the camera on my new iPhone to verify that the light in the glove box is off when the door is closed. I wanted to verify that findingI so I hooked my meter as before and measured 160 ma and then I opened the glove box and measured the current drain and it was 160 ma again. Then I folded a 4x6 sheet of paper so it became a pad, held it over the glove box switch and closed the door. The current drain now measured 31 ma. I cut a leather pad 1 inch in diameter and 1/8 inch thick and attached it as shown with contact cement. Don't regret all the work I did by missing the camera test...it was a great learning experience.