 Parasitic Battery Drain source found: Now what? |
|
|
|
Porsche, and the Porsche crest are registered trademarks of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG.
This site is not affiliated with Porsche in any way. Its only purpose is to provide an online forum for car enthusiasts. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners. |
|
|
| moneysmarts |
 Apr 6 2011, 03:50 PM
Post
#1
|
|
Member  Group: Members Posts: 169 Joined: 2-March 04 From: Central Massachusetts Member No.: 1,745 Region Association: None 
 |
Long-time- no-post!
Hi all. Just took the car out of storage from winter, looking forward to driving. My new battery keeps draining overnight. So I tapped in-line my multimeter and started pulling fuses and relays to locate the source. When I pulled the alternator wiring harness plug from the relay board, the volts/amps dropped to zero. Bingo! But now what do I do? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif) Do I have a bad alternator or can I diagnose further? Thanks for the help. I'd hate to have to struggle to replace that bad boy for nothing. Steve |
   |
 
|
  |
Replies
| moneysmarts |
Apr 6 2011, 06:48 PM
Post
#2
|
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 169 Joined: 2-March 04 From: Central Massachusetts Member No.: 1,745 Region Association: None
|
Rather than pulling apart the sheet metal to get at the alternator, I disconnected the red hot wire that was attached to the starter solonoid (and positive battery lead).
My multimeter dropped to zero. Is this now telling me that the alt. was the parasite? And if so, should I have mine rebuilt or just source a new one? |
|
|
|
| messix |
Apr 6 2011, 06:51 PM
Post
#3
|
|
AKA "CLUTCH KILLER"! Group: Members Posts: 6,995 Joined: 14-April 05 From: between shit kickers and pinky lifters/ puget sound wa.north of Seattle south of Canada Member No.: 3,931 Region Association: Pacific Northwest |
QUOTE(moneysmarts @ Apr 6 2011, 05:48 PM)  Rather than pulling apart the sheet metal to get at the alternator, I disconnected the red hot wire that was attached to the starter solonoid (and positive battery lead). My multimeter dropped to zero. Is this now telling me that the alt. was the parasite? And if so, should I have mine rebuilt or just source a new one? yes the diodes are blown and it needs to be rebuilt. [diodes are like a one way valve to electricity] |
|
|
|
| moneysmarts |
Apr 6 2011, 07:05 PM
Post
#4
|
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 169 Joined: 2-March 04 From: Central Massachusetts Member No.: 1,745 Region Association: None
|
yes the diodes are blown and it needs to be rebuilt. [diodes are like a one way valve to electricity]
[/quote] Alrighty. When I jump the car and have it running, my multimeter shows that the alternator is charging the battery, though. Would it still work that way if the diodes were shot? |
|
|
|
| messix |
Apr 6 2011, 07:15 PM
Post
#5
|
|
AKA "CLUTCH KILLER"! Group: Members Posts: 6,995 Joined: 14-April 05 From: between shit kickers and pinky lifters/ puget sound wa.north of Seattle south of Canada Member No.: 3,931 Region Association: Pacific Northwest |
[quote name='moneysmarts' date='Apr 6 2011, 06:05 PM' post='1454764']
yes the diodes are blown and it needs to be rebuilt. [diodes are like a one way valve to electricity] [/quote] Alrighty. When I jump the car and have it running, my multimeter shows that the alternator is charging the battery, though. Would it still work that way if the diodes were shot? [/quote] yah, for a while, it's going to over load the ones that are still working and blow all of them. it won't be making the full rated output in current. the diodes convert the a/c that the "alternator" makes into d/c, by taking voltage at 180 phases ...... well it gets complicated to explain in text and is easier to do on a chalk board. look it up here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rectifier |
|
|
|
Posts in this topic
moneysmarts Parasitic Battery Drain source found: Now what? Apr 6 2011, 03:50 PM
r_towle how far are you from Tyngsboro? Apr 6 2011, 03:53 PM
moneysmarts
how far are you from Tyngsboro?
I'm in Leom... Apr 6 2011, 03:54 PM messix diode in the alt is blown and is energizing the fi... Apr 6 2011, 03:54 PM Root_Werks Plug the alt harnes back in and the take the volt ... Apr 6 2011, 03:54 PM r_towle unplug just the alternator at the alternator.
It m... Apr 6 2011, 03:55 PM moneysmarts
unplug just the alternator at the alternator.
It ... Apr 6 2011, 03:59 PM r_towle not easily...but yes you can.
Chelmsford Auto Ele... Apr 6 2011, 04:01 PM moneysmarts [quote name='r_towle' date='Apr 6 2011... Apr 6 2011, 04:09 PM moneysmarts I just pulled out the voltage regulator from the r... Apr 6 2011, 04:07 PM r_towle well, that might seem easier, but it wont be in th... Apr 6 2011, 04:11 PM 76-914
well, that might seem easier, but it wont be in t... Apr 6 2011, 05:22 PM SLITS The alt harness unplugs from the relay board ........ Apr 6 2011, 05:24 PM moneysmarts
The alt harness unplugs from the relay board ....... Apr 6 2011, 05:35 PM moneysmarts OK
Thanks much.
I'll have to pull it out tomor... Apr 6 2011, 07:20 PM Root_Werks Troy is my hero. :worship: Apr 6 2011, 08:59 PM Tom I would agree with Troy's assesment also, but ... Apr 7 2011, 12:58 PM r_towle in my recent experience with bosch rebuilt alterna... Apr 7 2011, 01:54 PM moneysmarts Rich:
I dropped the alt. off to Brian this morning... Apr 7 2011, 02:09 PM messix
Rich:
I dropped the alt. off to Brian this mornin... Apr 7 2011, 02:18 PM moneysmarts I have no idea Troy.
When the guy called me and sa... Apr 7 2011, 02:22 PM messix
I have no idea Troy.
When the guy called me and s... Apr 7 2011, 02:33 PM r_towle troy, these guys are very good.
This is all they d... Apr 7 2011, 02:28 PM messix
troy, these guys are very good.
This is all they ... Apr 7 2011, 02:34 PM r_towle OK, can someone post a diagram of that little wiri... Apr 7 2011, 02:33 PM moneysmarts Rich:
Just to refresh what I did...
When I pulled ... Apr 7 2011, 02:34 PM r_towle
Rich:
Just to refresh what I did...
When I pulled... Apr 7 2011, 02:41 PM messix
Rich:
Just to refresh what I did...
When I pulle... Apr 7 2011, 02:53 PM moneysmarts It looks ok, but I can replace it.
Any special gau... Apr 7 2011, 04:54 PM messix
It looks ok, but I can replace it.
Any special ga... Apr 7 2011, 05:29 PM moneysmarts how are you testing for draw? where are you doing ... Apr 7 2011, 06:51 PM SLITS Backup lights ... fuse 8 or 9? .... thru the main ... Apr 7 2011, 04:57 PM messix
Backup lights ... fuse 8 or 9? .... thru the main... Apr 7 2011, 05:30 PM SLITS The question was "Where oh where does the bac... Apr 7 2011, 05:34 PM messix so when you diconnect the wire from the alt to the... Apr 7 2011, 06:56 PM moneysmarts Yup.
Quirky.
I'll put it all back together tom... Apr 7 2011, 09:09 PM Tom I''l bet them cleaning it up cured your dr... Apr 8 2011, 08:50 AM TC 914-8 :popcorn:
I'm curious what it is
Keep us pos... Apr 8 2011, 10:58 PM moneysmarts
:popcorn:
I'm curious what it is
Keep us po... Apr 9 2011, 02:34 PM moneysmarts
:popcorn:
I'm curious what it is
Keep us p... Apr 11 2011, 08:34 AM |
1 User(s) are reading this topic (1 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users)
0 Members:
|
Lo-Fi Version | Time is now: 8th July 2025 - 09:05 PM |
Invision Power Board
v9.1.4 © 2025 IPS, Inc.