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Date: Mon, 17 Mar 2003 20:45:25 -0600
From: Captain Freedom <data61aS_P_A_Mnopsamcape.net>
Subject: Re: 1989 has battery drain


I had similar problem with an 88 900. Went through the troubleshooting procedure as outlined below and discovered the circuit that feeds the passive restraint motors was the culprit. If I remember correctly the belt would not retract completely and current to the motor would not shut off and has a result would drain the battery overnight. I am not sure if your car has the passive restraint type seat belts. John John Davies wrote: > On 17 Mar 2003 15:01:45 -0800, alyoungnopsammarble.net (Amy > Young-Leith) wrote: > > >>I few weeks ago I bought a 1989 900 (non-turbo). It's a POS with over >>225k, but looks great and is fun to drive. I paid diddly for it so I >>figured if I had to tinker with it... well, it would be a challenge. >> >>I seem to have a power short somewhere. The battery will be DEAD, and >>it'll jump start just fine, and charge the battery up enough to start >>again if you shut it off. But overnight, it drains back down to zilch. >> >>This happened once when I first got it... then didn't happen for a >>while, and now is happening all the time. >> >>My first thought is to replace the battery, but a few people have said >>that since it'll charge back up, they don't think that's it. It had a >>new alternator on it about a year ago. >> >>The answer may be that I have to take it into a professional, but >>that'll have to wait a while. Anything a handy but car-dumb person can >>do to self diagnose? >> >>Amy > > > > First of all, the battery is probably junk. Locate an automotive > battery charger, charge the battery at least overnight, then drive the > car to a local shop and have them test the charging system and the > battery. Usually they will do this for free in the hopes of selling > you some new parts. You have no obligation to buy from them. They need > to do a load test to see if the battery has adequate capacity, and > they need to check the alternator to see if it is charging fully at > idle. Either problem MUST be corrected before proceeding. > > It's pretty easy to determine if there is an abnormal drain - the > problem is finding what exactly is causing the problem. The best way > for you to at least isolate the cause is to buy an inexpensive digital > voltmeter at an auto parts store. Get one that has an ammeter function > of at least 1 amp. 10 amps would be better (and more costly). > > Charge the battery and remove the negative (black) battery cable. Set > the meter selector dial to amps (current reading) and connect the > black meter wire to the disconnected battery cable, and touch the red > meter wire to the negative post on the battery. With this > configuration the meter will show how much current is flowing through > the battery. > > With the ignition key OFF, there should be no more than 0.1 or 0.2 > amps. Any more than that and you have a serious drain. You can start > pulling fuses one at a time, and replacing them, until the abnormal > drain goes away, and that will tell you the circuit that has the > problem. > > In addition to a meter, you really need a good electrical diagram. > Once you figure out which circuit is bad, you can check out the > components on that circuit and hopefully locate the culprit. > > Good luck - this sort of electrical problem can be frustrating to > solve. Don't hesitate to ask again in this group, or ask a friend with > electrical knowledge to help you. > > My suspicion is that if you replace the battery everything will be > fine. > > John Davies > Monroe WA USA > > 2001 Saab 9-5 Aero Wagon > 2000 Audi A4 quattro 1.8T > 1991 Jeep Cherokee Laredo 4x4 >

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