1990 CRX - battery keeps draining

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Dec 8, 2009 | 06:32 AM
  #1  
jdmrexy90's Avatar
Thread Starter
Honda-Tech Member
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 113
Likes: 0
From: Orlando, FL
Default 1990 CRX - battery keeps draining

1990 Honda Crx dx
d15b non vtec
advance auto fogs-wired to a switch in dash
JVC in-dash receiver
pioneer speakers
everything else is STOCK

Ive down the drain test at advance, everything good, new batt. from walmart, new alternator, starter good. still battery keeps draining.

The dumbass who had the car before me subsituted the OEM stereo wiring fof an aftermarket and left the stock one tucked under the dash. Took out the aftermarket and returned to stock wiring harness, still battery keeps draining.

Ive driven the car with out the in-dash reciever hooked up for a day and still got a battery drain. Same with the fogs.

Can anyone help me???? Please
Reply
Old Dec 8, 2009 | 06:40 AM
  #2  
ryan_long_01's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
From: Indianapolis, IN, USA
Default Re: 1990 CRX - battery keeps draining

Just something I found via google:

Some causes for an electrical drain

1. Trunk, hood, or interior light or glove box light that is staying on when the engine is OFF

2. Aftermarket radios, CD players, amplifiers, cell phone chargers etc. etc. are notorious for drains

3. Electric seat motors and electric antennae motors that are stuck in the ON position

4. Relays or components under the hood that are ON or running with the engine OFF - for instance electric cooling fan motors, anti lock brake pump motors, air ride suspension pump motors.
Reply
Old Dec 8, 2009 | 06:47 AM
  #3  
jdmrexy90's Avatar
Thread Starter
Honda-Tech Member
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 113
Likes: 0
From: Orlando, FL
Default Re: 1990 CRX - battery keeps draining

yea i make sure all doors are closed, as well as hood/trunk. And ive driven the car with the aftermarket radio disconnected and sitting on the floor and left over night and still have a dead battery in the morning.

Ive been reading other threads and im seeing alot of main relays and test light between batt neg and car ground?
Reply
Old Dec 8, 2009 | 07:26 AM
  #4  
gringo7718's Avatar
Honda-Tech Member
 
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,210
Likes: 4
From: MIAMI
Default Re: 1990 CRX - battery keeps draining

you need to do a test for current draw from the battery.

1. remove the negative cable from the battery
2. place a test light or multi meter between the neg battery post and the loose neg battery cable.
3. it is normal to have a small current draw (dim light on test light) for clock/stereo settings.
4. then start removing fuses from the fusebox, one at a time, and check to see when the light dims or the meter reading drops.
5. when you find the fuse that is drawing the excess current - then you know which circut is drawing the current and go from there to fix it.


one hint - the crx with door mounted seatbelts will drain your battery if the doors are left open. If the door "trigger" does not recognize that the door is closed, the seatbelt system will continue to drain the battery. It is common for these triggers to fail or make a poor contact, so make sure they are working properly.
Reply
Old Dec 8, 2009 | 07:49 AM
  #5  
jdmrexy90's Avatar
Thread Starter
Honda-Tech Member
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 113
Likes: 0
From: Orlando, FL
Default Re: 1990 CRX - battery keeps draining

come to think of it awile ago but im talking months ago my passenger seatbelt/door indicator keept beeping even when driving with the passenger seatbelt hooked up. so my buddies and i disconnected the plug thats in the rear view mirror and i think the door trigger on the passenger door. but why now after soo many months is it draining my battery?
Reply
Old Dec 8, 2009 | 07:51 AM
  #6  
jdmrexy90's Avatar
Thread Starter
Honda-Tech Member
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 113
Likes: 0
From: Orlando, FL
Default Re: 1990 CRX - battery keeps draining

i also took out the bulb in the gauges bcuz the light of an open door would always stay on. but why now is it affecting my car?
Reply
Old Dec 8, 2009 | 07:59 AM
  #7  
jdmrexy90's Avatar
Thread Starter
Honda-Tech Member
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 113
Likes: 0
From: Orlando, FL
Default Re: 1990 CRX - battery keeps draining

correction, the passenger door trigger is installed nd pluged in. only the connector in the rearview mirror was unpluged. so i connected that back on, should my car still think the door is open and stop draining my battery? but now that i think more the doom light turns on and off whenever you open/close BOTH doors, so now im confused. Please help
Reply
Old Dec 8, 2009 | 12:15 PM
  #8  
gringo7718's Avatar
Honda-Tech Member
 
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,210
Likes: 4
From: MIAMI
Default Re: 1990 CRX - battery keeps draining

Perform the test I posted. It will tell you which fuse/circut is causing the drain.


You can test the door triggers but this may not be the problem. The door triggers should be a green/red wire coming from the trigger in the door jam. When you open the door the wire should ground out and show negative. When you close the door, the wire will not ground out and not test negative. check both doors.

Last edited by gringo7718; Dec 8, 2009 at 12:28 PM.
Reply
Old Dec 8, 2009 | 04:28 PM
  #9  
elf469's Avatar
Honda-Tech Member
 
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 241
Likes: 0
From: Nor*Cal
Default Re: 1990 CRX - battery keeps draining

Do you drive it a lot?
Reply
Old Dec 8, 2009 | 04:33 PM
  #10  
DJYoshaBYD's Avatar
Honda-Tech Member
 
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 477
Likes: 0
From: Stockton, Ca, USA
Default Re: 1990 CRX - battery keeps draining

Originally Posted by gringo7718
you need to do a test for current draw from the battery.

1. remove the negative cable from the battery
2. place a test light or multi meter between the neg battery post and the loose neg battery cable.
3. it is normal to have a small current draw (dim light on test light) for clock/stereo settings.
4. then start removing fuses from the fusebox, one at a time, and check to see when the light dims or the meter reading drops.
5. when you find the fuse that is drawing the excess current - then you know which circut is drawing the current and go from there to fix it.


one hint - the crx with door mounted seatbelts will drain your battery if the doors are left open. If the door "trigger" does not recognize that the door is closed, the seatbelt system will continue to drain the battery. It is common for these triggers to fail or make a poor contact, so make sure they are working properly.
EXACTLY how you check that... process of elimination.. my cavalier used to have that same issue, and through this process, i found out it was the light in the glove box staying on..

Do this, and you WILL find the device draining your batt
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
justin05haex
Honda Civic / Del Sol (1992 - 2000)
4
Jun 25, 2017 08:38 PM
SIef9
Honda CRX / EF Civic (1988 - 1991)
8
Aug 4, 2011 10:33 AM
couch
Audio / Security / Video
8
Jul 24, 2009 04:27 AM
c1turbo
Honda CRX / EF Civic (1988 - 1991)
2
Oct 8, 2008 10:53 AM
Crxfanatic15
Honda CRX / EF Civic (1988 - 1991)
5
Sep 15, 2003 03:46 PM




All times are GMT -8. The time now is 10:49 PM.