Parasitic drain, narrowed it down to one circuit?

[hiram6]

My 85 Westy has been sitting pretty much unused for a while now. Maybe once a month or so, I'll take it out for a 30 minute drive just to keep it from deteriorating, but the rest of the time it's been just sitting under the cover.

For all of that time I have had 120V plugged into the side of the van. I have an onboard battery charging system that charges the house battery first, then it relay connects in the starting battery and tops it up. Both batteries are in good shape and have been load tested good.

So, here is the issue. If I leave it off the charger, the relay disconnects the house and starting battery circuits. My house battery stays charged, but my starting battery slowly goes down. Today I hooked a multimeter up to the neg post of the battery and to the (disconnected) neg cable. Can't remember the reading, but I was getting a draw. I began removing individual fuses to see if I could narrow it down. I think I did.

The circuit that powers the wipers and blower motor. When i disconnected the fuse, the ammeter dropped to zero AND I could hear a relay clicking as i removed/inserted the fuse!! AND, another discovery!! Both my wipers and blower motor apparently are "hot" with the key off!! That ain't right, is it? in other words I can turn my wipers on/off and my blower(s) on/off without even having the key in the ignition.

So, being the electrical dummy I am, where do I go from here. How do I trace this fault?
_________________
1985 Westy, 1.9L automatic (Daisy)
1996 Mazda Miata
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.9 Limited

You can't lie around on the beach and drink rum all day.................unless you start first thing in the morning.

[JeffRobenolt]

The relay that is clicking is stuck on or is being fed by 12v batt instead of key on 12v
_________________
--------------------------------------------------------

[kbeefy]

if it's clicking it's working properly, theres an issue with the trigger to the relay.

I'd guess something between the ignition swith and whatever triggers the wiper and blower. Have to look at a schematic to be sure.
_________________
86 syncro CHC, NorthWesty subbie 2.5, decoupler, locker, custom interior, 225/75r16 Duratrack's on CLK's, Toyo cabin heater, ARB fridge, 300w Zamp Solar, Gowesty bumpers/skid/rails, Fiama awning

'86 Syncro Westy. Stock for now.

2000 F350 7.3 CC LB 11' Northland Cabover

2006 Subbie OBXT

2002 Tacoma DoubleCab 4x4

1969 Mustang Basket Case 351c/FMX/9

http://kbeefy.blogspot.com/

[Wildthings]

The relay you hear is the Load Reduction Relay, it is triggered off of the "X" circuit on the ignition switch. The "X" circuit also supplies power to the headlight switch so if you have messed with your headlight by adding relays and such you may inadvertently be powering the relay when it should not be powered.

[euromog]

You just prevented your Westy from burning to the ground.

[euromog]

You just prevented your Westy from burning to the ground.

[hiram6]