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gunmetalgrey
Samba Member
Joined: September 13, 2011
Posts: 62
Location: Bay Area, CA
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 Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2012 10:43 am Post subject: Battery drain |
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| A couple weeks ago, I noticed my '87 weekender was kinda slow to start one day. The next, turn the key and, nothing. Thought maybe I had left the headlights on so, I charged the battery over night and all was a good for week or so. A couple days ago same thing... Turn the key and nothing. Take the battery down to Pepboys and they test and charge it. They tell me it's good. =P I was hoping it wasn't 'cause this time I KNOW I didn't leave anything on... So, I'm assuming I've got some kind of leak somewhere? I haven't done any work to the van lately other than working on the brakes... Is there a way to see if the battery is being drained while the van is parked? Like some kind of tool to hook up to it and see what's going on? My thinking is that I'm going to need to go looking around for a short or something but, how will I know when I've found it? Anyway, I'm just kinda thinking out loud. Any suggestions? |
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kamzcab86
Samba Moderator
Joined: July 26, 2008
Posts: 7916
Location: Arizona
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| Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2012 10:50 am Post subject: |
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This topic has been covered numerous times: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/search.php?search..._chars=200 
To specifically answer your question on how to check for parasitic drains:
| Dogpilot wrote: |
| Remove the ground to battery wire. Put an amp meter between the ground strap and the battery. This will show the draw on the battery. Pull fuses and replace them one at a time and note the drop in amp draw. when you find the circuit that draws the offending amount of power, then trace down that one and you will find you great sucking sound of electricity. |
(P.S. Thread title changed... I thought you had a battery leaking acid until I read your description.)
_________________
~Kamz 
1986 Cabriolet: www.Cabby-Info.com
 1990 Vanagon Westfalia: Old Blue's Blog
2016 Golf GTI S
"Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance." - 孔子 |
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gunmetalgrey
Samba Member
Joined: September 13, 2011
Posts: 62
Location: Bay Area, CA
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| Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2012 10:54 am Post subject: |
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Thank you for the link and for the title change.
Edit: I feel like a goober for starting this thread. I didn't think to search for "drain". Duh. Please delete it. |
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