Stupid battery keeps getting drained completely dead. Anyone know a way to find out what's killing it while it's parked?

 

Easiest way: get a cheap volt meter from radio shack. Pull the positive battery connection (easiest to just undo the bolt that holds the fuse box on). Connect the voltmeter using the current measuring connections (NOT the voltage connections) across the positive connection (i.e. attach aligator connectors to the stud on the post connector and the plate on the fuse box). You should see a current draw value come up on the voltmeter (really current meter, now ). Now, start pulling fuses. Start with the ones in the interior. Note that some circuits will pull voltage anyway, like the radio, but you will be looking for higher current draw than the radio (I actually don't know what the current draw for un-problemattic system is, but I think I can check and let you know later...). Anyway, once you pull the fuse that stops the current draw, you have found the circuit that is draining your battery

Hardest way: look at the circuit diagrams in the manual, then start poking your head around, looking for a short or bare wire in ALL the wiring in the car. Good luck!

 

Looks like the current draw on my car is 112 milliamps (0.112 amps) with the stock alarm not armed. Near as I can tell, that's the current draw for the radio and I think the ECU had a slight contstant drain. Anyway, hope this helps at all...

 

Gargamel, do you have a "fan mod" installed in your car? Do you have an aftermarket alarm?

 

Make sure your battery isn't toast. I spent months trying to figure out why my mini battery wasn't holding a charge. I thought I had a current leak. It turns out that my battery just wouldn't hold a charge for more than a few hours.

I bought a new mini battery and things are all good.

 

Yes I do. I've actually got it set up so the fans run constantly while the engine is running. It runs 10 minutes after the engine is turned off. Problem?

 

The battery should be fine. I've only got around 2,000 miles on it athough, it's 3 years old. I don't drive my car much

 

That may be your problem. If you are using the wire behind the ECU to actuate your fans, and leaving it on all the time, the wire will remain grounded. This will drain your battery. If you simply turn off the switch after shutting down the car, it won't drain your battery. If you don't have a switch, get one, and install it right away.

 

I'll toss on a switch and let you know what happens. Thanks.

 

I think that will fix your problem. Good luck