1996 Maxima has excess parasitic battery drain.

[erom43]

I don't use my car very much, and when it sits out for a couple of months the battery goes dead. Battery seems to charge up fine, and is good for a couple more months. I'm looking for a way around this cycle. The parasitic draw seems to be around 220 mA, where less than 50mA is normal. I've checked everything I can visually, other than pulling every fuse and relay in the car.

I looked into getting a solar battery maintainer, but it seems the 12 v receptacle is not powered unless the key is on, and I'm not sure how to connect directly to the battery from inside the car. I'm also looking at the possibility of a battery isolator, which should work, but would necessitate opening the hood every time I needed to use the car.

First, can anyone give me the most like culprit for this model car, so I wouldn't have to pull every single fuse and relay? I have no after market items that I can think of. Barring that, can anyone offer inexpensive ideas or suggestions that might help me out? Thanks.

[NutriaforBreakfast]

is battery clean? No leaves or debris under the battery?

[erom43]

Yes, battery is clean, about two years old, and charges to around 12.5 volts. Terminals are clean as well.

[NutriaforBreakfast]

I would also clean the where the battery cable goes to the starter
and all ground wires-makem shiny

[tnystel]

I have a similar problem with battery drain in my 99 Infinit I30. This problem has been going on for years. The battery has been replaced twice and the terminals cleaned. When left for several days without driving, the battery goes flat. After it is charged up overnight, the car runs fine again and the battery stays charged, so long as it is driven every 2 or 3 days. I had it checked when replacing the battery once . The test showed that the alternator was operating fine and that the battery capacity was good, but that there was excessive current being drawn. I have no idea what is pulling the current, but there is something going on here.

[erom43]

Since there is no battery power to the 12v outlet with the key off, I could not hook up a passive solar charger, which was my first choice for a cheap solution. I could have gone through the entire troubleshooting procedure of hooking up the multimeter, and pulling fuses one by one, to find the cause of the draw. But I wasn't sure I could fix the problem even if I found it.
So I opted for a Top Post Battery Master Disconnect Switch, which bridges the battery post to the cars connector cable. This permits me to open the battery circuit by merely turning a thumb wheel, rather than having to disconnect the cable manually. Yes, it is a nuisance to have to use the key, and pop the hood every time I use the car, but I only use it on the average of once a month, and can leave it connected if I'm going to use it more. So far, it seems to be working. It has been two months now, and the old car cranks up like it was just charged.

[erom43]

is battery clean? No leaves or debris under the battery?

How would debris or leaves under the battery affect this problem?

[KrisC]

Could be car alarm, I had that problem. For longer times i disconnected it.