parasitic drain Topic is solved

SirBrickWagon · Post by **SirBrickWagon** » 12 Apr 2022, 09:53

hey guys. not sure if this is common or not, but my 850 seems to have a parasitic drain from the alarm relay, of all things. parked it over spring break and came back to a dead battery. pulled alarm relay as it had no problems before i popped it in, boosted it, and low and behold it's not dropping charge anymore. is this unusual for a guard 2 relay?

Post by **850 LPT** » 12 Apr 2022, 10:15

One very culprit is the glove compartment switch. I would take a look at this first.

Some good info to be found here:

viewtopic.php?t=89801&start=10

SirBrickWagon · Post by **SirBrickWagon** » 12 Apr 2022, 10:17

850 LPT wrote: ↑12 Apr 2022, 10:15 One very culprit is the glove compartment switch. I would take a look at this first.

Some good info to be found here:

viewtopic.php?t=89801&start=10

i don't think that would be the problem as it burnt out as i was gathered around the car with a few friends brainstorming how to turn it off when my glovebox wouldn't latch. very timely.

Post by **scot850** » 12 Apr 2022, 17:05

There is no easy way to find the issue. the link above has the info on how to track the circuit for the draw and then you will have to disconnect everything one at a time on that circuit until you find where the issue is.

Problem is in an old car like most of ours here are, the wiring goes brittle and with lots of use they can break internally and short. Good examples are the door harnesses where they go through between the door and the door pillar, in sedans' the wiring harness into the trunk lid and wagons the harness where it does into the top of the tailgate on the LH hinge.

Neil.

SirBrickWagon · Post by **SirBrickWagon** » 09 May 2022, 10:25

gee, this is embarrassing. drain was coming from a small lightbulb in the glovebox. took it out and laughed at my oversight for a while.

Post by **scot850** » 09 May 2022, 10:44

Normally the #1 go to for drains. Glad you found it though as it is so annoying!

Neil.

SirBrickWagon · Post by **SirBrickWagon** » 10 May 2022, 11:24

scot850 wrote: ↑09 May 2022, 10:44 Normally the #1 go to for drains. Glad you found it though as it is so annoying!

Neil.

i think i recall you telling me that it could be that a while back, low and behold.

Post by **BlackBart** » 10 May 2022, 12:09

Good find! I think I killed a battery once long ago with a glovebox lamp where the door wouldn't latch tightly. It was always on.