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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Bellaire, Texas
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It's difficult to diagnose electrical problems without a volt meter. Spend a few bucks, connect the volt meter, and see what's going on.
If you connect to the battery terminals, it should be above 12.5v with the engine off, between 13.5 and 14.5 with the engine running; there should be no measurable voltage between the negative battery terminal and any metal part of the engine/chassis. The most severe grounding test is to connect the volt meter between the negative battery terminal and various parts of the engine/chassis while you hit the start button - this is the highest discharge the battery should ever see and will test the ground connectivity.
Most volt meters also have a current setting (usually up to about 10 amps) which you can use to measure drain. With the engine and accessories all off, remove the positive battery connector and connect the ammeter between the positive battery post and the positive battery terminal that you just removed. (DON'T hit the start button or you will fry the ammeter.) The current reading with this setup should be minimal (maybe as much as 20mA if you have standby alarm or other stuff). If you don't have any accessories that should draw power when everything is shut off, this reading should be zero.
If you connect to the battery terminals, it should be above 12.5v with the engine off, between 13.5 and 14.5 with the engine running; there should be no measurable voltage between the negative battery terminal and any metal part of the engine/chassis. The most severe grounding test is to connect the volt meter between the negative battery terminal and various parts of the engine/chassis while you hit the start button - this is the highest discharge the battery should ever see and will test the ground connectivity.
Most volt meters also have a current setting (usually up to about 10 amps) which you can use to measure drain. With the engine and accessories all off, remove the positive battery connector and connect the ammeter between the positive battery post and the positive battery terminal that you just removed. (DON'T hit the start button or you will fry the ammeter.) The current reading with this setup should be minimal (maybe as much as 20mA if you have standby alarm or other stuff). If you don't have any accessories that should draw power when everything is shut off, this reading should be zero.
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