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In need of electrical help


nemets88
10-02-2005, 10:22 AM
I have a '90 SSE, and for about a month, my car has been losing electrical engine power every couple days. I have to come home and plug it in on the charger like a golf cart almost every day. Something seems to be draining the battery, butI replaced the battery, and replaced the alternator with a used one but i believe it was still good. does anybody have any other ideas to what could be going wrong? I need to sell the car soon, and i don't think it would sell very well if this keeps happening. thanks

Aurora01
10-02-2005, 06:54 PM
It could be you self leveling air shocks. The compressor could be running nonstop if there is a hole in the air lines or if the level control switch is bad. You could try pulling the fuse for the compressor. If that dosent work try a meter on the battery with car turned off and see it is discharging - if so locate the drain by pulling one fuse at a time.

nemets88
10-02-2005, 08:53 PM
hey thanks that's a great idea and i never would have thought of that...but do you possibly know what meter i am supposed to use and where i could pick one up? thanks a ton

markwb
10-08-2005, 06:37 PM
You will need a DC ammeter connected in series with the positive battery lead. Disconnect positive battery lead, connect one meter lead to positive battery lead you just lifted, the other meter lead connects to the positive post on the battery. With car turned off (key out of ignition, all interior lights & accessories off) the ammeter should indicate no significant current flow. If you see current flow, start selectively removing fuses one at a time. Start with the ELC fuse, then try the radio/power antenna fuses etc until current flow decays off. The other option is to get a DC clamp on ammeter & just place the yoke around the positive battery lead to monitor current, then isolate fuses as described above. Hope some of this makes sense, good luck with it.

nemets88
10-27-2005, 09:52 AM
thanks a lot...i will give it a try and let you know how it turns out...

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