Hi. I have a 1996 Accord EX V6. And i recently went to drive it after it had been sitting for a few days, and it wouldnt start. So I took the battery out, and took it to Shucks and got it tested and charged. Got it back the next day, and they said the battery was good. Put it in, and the car started right up. Then, I didnt drive it for a few days, went to start it up.............nothing. So I got the battery charged again, and i took the car into shucks and got the alternator tested. I was told it was good aswell. So I took it home, and checked the voltage on the battery an hour later, and it was 12.56. I went out and checked the battrey again the next mouring, and the voltage was a 12.38. So, im pretty sure I have a drain somewhere. So, I did a current drain test with a digital multimeter. And with everything on the car off, all the doors closed, the current drain reading was 0.01. Is that normal? While I had the test going, I started pulling relays and fuses 1 by 1. When I got to the radio fuse, and interior light fuse, the reading went back and forth from 0.00 to 0.01. Note: the interior light fuse and the radior backup fuse were 2 different fuses. When both are pulled out, the current drain reading is 0.00. CONSTANT! So what do I do now? This is a project car for me, and would like to continue that. If u have any answers, please help. Thank You!!!!!

 

A 10 mA drain is reasonable. Sounds like it's time for a new battery.

 

Well. That's what i thought, but the battery is only about a 1 1/2 yrs. old. And when i took out both those fuses, and left them out, I went and checked the voltage this morning, and it hadn't changed. So I was assuming that it was probably the radio, considering the fact, that i pulled the whole unit out. And when I checked all the wires, there were some connections that had some splices in them where someone attached some wires for something, but then cut them out and left a little piece of wire hanging. Which means that those wires could be making contact while driving, thus creating a short. Right??? Im not sure though. The battery that I have isn't a real top of the line battery. It's an autolite, or something like that. I am wanting to change it out for a Optima. And I didn't think that a .01 drain would be sufficient enough to drain the battery at all, but I've been asking around, and I'm being told the opposite. Any more input anyone?? Could use some more help or opinions!!! Thanks 02 Accord for ur reply!! Have any more???

 

I was tracing a odd problem similar to that in my prelude. Almost got to the point of selling it. New battery, alternators, ignition switch, etc... Still same problem, something was draining my battery. I also then noticed something was backfeeding power, with the key completely out, I could still operate my blower fan. Searching on h-t, found someone with an Integra with the same problem (as mine). Turns out, an A/C relay was the culprit all along. Could be a longshot, but try it out. Run your test again for drain, but try disconnecting the A/C relays one at a time. Odd, yes. Worth a shot, yes. hth.

-l8r

 

Yeah, I thought of that. So when I was doin the current drain test with the multimeter. I started pulling all the re-lays and fuses from under the hood, 1 at a time. And nothing changed until I pulled the fuse for the radio, or the interior lights. It's weird, cause when i pull the radio fuse, but leave the interior lights fuse still plugged in, the drain goes back and forth from .00 to .01. The same thing happens with the opposite. But when both fuses are pulled, the drain is a solid .00 so...................what now. i cant afford to take it to an electricion. Shouldn't there be a re-lay for those components aswell? The radio and the lights. There isn't 1 under the hood, so would it be in the dash somewhere? Im shutting in the dark here. Thanks for the input!!!!!

 

OK!!!!! So I think I've found the problem!!!! I disconnected the Ign. SW fuse, and the drain went away completely. No back and forth drain, no nothing. So I traced it back to the remote start that is installed within the brain for the alarm. But, the drain isnt coming from the brain itself. So, I started to unplug individual components, such as: L.E.D. Light, Shock Sensor, Etc. Every time I unplugged a component, I would check the drain reading. When I got to the Power Door Lock Output plug-in on the brain, I unplugged it, and the drain was gone completely. So now, im still lost. I dont know much about all this, so now, my new question is, where is the relay for the power door locks? Is there 1? If not, would there be something in the brain itself? I tried to trace the wire for the power door lock output, but it goes up from the under the dash, along the window sill, and up to the roof. Still cuold use some help here. Thanks!!