any help?? I got a 3 amp draw...ideas!!

[navajo_drifter]

First, Im going to say that, I don't want to resort to a battery disconnect switch.

With that being said, my friend and I, hooked up the multimeter and then conducted tests. The tests we conducted were to look for any lights or any obvious things that may be on, after that was taken care of, still 3 amp draw. Next, we presumed to pull out every relay and fuse one by one to see if there was a draw there, none. then we closed all the doors, the hood, the trunk, none, completely disconnected the alarm system, still 3 amp draw. disconnected the ecu from the car and still a 3 amp draw.

Other factors that may be of concern, rb25 swap was completed in sept. of 2006 and had no amp draw of that amount cause the battery would have died, but did not. I had a little accident a month later but it was front end damage, and battery has been relocated to the rear, and after the repairs, there was no draw, again battery would have died. then again in feb i had another accident...drifting, sucks when your going all out...anyway, the car was repaired and had no draw for the week or 2 it was at the shop being worked on. the day i took it, i went ahead and drifted it a little, with no problems after turning it off. later in the day I drag raced a lightning, then pulled into taco bell, and talked with the guy and some others for about 3 or 4 hours and the car wouldnt start, got a jump and it started up. drove home got up in the morning and the battery is dead again. took it to advanced and they pronounced the battery DED. so i bought a red top to replace the yellow top 2 days later, and installed it and it died after one day. I drove it on the new red top to work, to school, to work, and back home then got up in the morning and the new red top is ded. then had the battery recharged at advanced and conducted the tests.

any ideas on the 3 amp draw?

also, the alternator output voltage is around 12.7v. The alternator did get doused with antifreeze but this was around 4 months ago

[Kansei240sx]

Bad Alternator?

I myself had a similar problem, i-redid part of my lower engine harness so im thinking it might be fixed this time around. Also, what gauge wire are you using for the battery relocation, i think im using a 4gauge wire, but im going to go to 2.

[navajo_drifter]

I'm using a 4 gauge wire with no problems as of 8 months of completion.

any ideas on the 3 amp draw?

[Kansei240sx]

If something is still drawing, i'd say you have a short somewhere and its grounded out when its not supposed to be. I'd check over your wiring harness and lower engine harness.

[240z4u]

Check for pinched wires. When I did remote starts, I had to troubleshoot a mustang that went dead regularly.

I found a pinched power wire that was not quite a dead short, but was drawing lots of power.

I would check inbetween your bellhousing and block if you have done a clutch recently.

Evan

[rotorimp]

I had a similar problem about a month ago--turned out to be the pop up lights--one of the plugs had some corrosion--cleaned it up good to go.

[zdrifter]

Hearing about these accidents makes me agree with a pinched wire, also check your trunk light, youd be surprised how many times I have heard about just that killing batteries. Other than that the only advice I can give you is go through your wiring and make sure everything is intact. Your battery cables need to be clean or you can get a surface discharge... Also did you check your alternator output at idle or 1500rpm?? If you checked it at idle check it at 1500rpm, it should be around 14.5v. Also do a starter draw test, check for volt drops everything of that sort.

[navajo_drifter]

Thanks guys,

I finally got some time to work on it today, and my buddy was at work with his multimeter so i can't really check for the draw but i took out my radio, and there were a bunch of exposed metal from the wires where the person who did the reciever left. so i hooked up the battery and took it for a little drive(i thought it would be fine after that...) bout 10 miles to a buddies work to pick up my lug nuts. I get there and am afraid to turn the car off but i had to so i could pop the trunk...(the latch is messed up cause of putting tires in the trunk broke the spot weld...)well turned the car off, popped the trunk go back to the car and try to start and nothing...get the jump box and it starts up...ok well that sucks, maybe cause i left the terminals loose on the battery, it wasnt getting the charge...so i tighten that down, go to best but about 3 miles away to get an adaptor for the radio so i can do it right. i don't turn the car off because im afraid to, then the car starts to idle real funny, kinda like it was caming, then i giv it a little gas and it stumbles all over itself, so i turn it off. doesnt start back up. guy gives me a jump but takes about 10 tries before it finally starts...and i drive all the way back home scared i might not make it...what yall think...

based on this it has to be the alternator...i was also thinking that it might be possible for the alternator to draw quite a bit of power if something is wrong with the wires.

So, my next question is, does anyone know where I can find an alternator for a rb25det?? maybe advanced...vg30dett?? ima go use the search button now that i have already asked the question...thanks! and i really don't want to rebuild the one i have...i like new stuff...
Modified by navajo_drifter at 4:59 PM 5/9/2007

[240z4u]

I have an RB alternator. Email me if you need it.

Evan

There is no direct USDM replacement to my knowledge.

[240z4u]

Oh yeah, its possible for a bad battery to cause extra strain on an alternator. Not totally unusual.

[navajo_drifter]

yea, the volt output on the battery was upper 11's after we did the tests...its basically a brand new optima...i bought it, it died like 2 days later, had it fully recharged put it back in and now its dead again...im thinking alternator...

so...is the alternator new?? and what kinda price are we talking??

[240z4u]

Optimas do NOT take kindly to being drained 100%.

I have had at least 8 or so of them. Every one I ran dead was never right again.

I emailed you bout the alternator.

Evan

[navajo_drifter]

yea, i had a yellow top for 3 years and killed it 4 times before it called it quits, and now i have just killed my red top 2 times...maybe ill kill it 4 more times so i can get my 3 year warranty and get a new one...

[navajo_drifter]

just checked my email and it doesnt have anything from you...

[Sil240]

I know this thread is years old.

What was the problem with your 3 amp draw??