Parasitic Battery Draw

Elwood4u · Dec 21, 2018

Hi all,

I've been challenged the last few weeks with a parasitic draw problem. About 2 months I ago I replaced my battery then about 2 weeks ago one morning my car was dead and wouldn't start. According to interstate the battery tests fine. I also checked both positive and negative terminals.

I then jumped it and away I went. It seems like if I drive it every day its fine but sitting for more than 24 hours it seems to die and need a jump.

First I found the thread for the common issue with the hood close sensor so I replaced the bumper to no avail.

I've since tested the amp draw and I am drawing 575 milli amps with the trunk open as I test (2 leds installed currently). I can't imagine the LED's are drawing much so I definitely have a draw problem.

Besides checking each fuse one by one does anyone have any recommendations on where to go next?

Thanks.

Elwood4u · Dec 21, 2018

Also I decided to isolate the trunk LED's so I closed it and tested it with everything supposably off and I'm drawing 190 milliamps. Does that sound right?

pmckechnie · Dec 22, 2018

190 ma may be ok or not ok. I don't know about the Genesis but a lot of high end cars may leave some of the computers on for a period of time. I have seen some cars keep some of the computers on for up to an hour or more. 190 ma for a hour is not a problem.
I'm sorry I can't be more helpful, other than saying don't expect the car to completely shut down. Think about some things like the car can be setting for a day or more and you can go to the Genesis Owners site and download an address to the GPS system in the car. How can that happen if the system is completely shut down?
Try this, connect your meter and run the leads outside the car some way. Turn every thing off and then go out , leaving the key fobs in the house, 2 hours later and without even touching the car see what the meter says then. It will probably show some drain but it should be below 25 ma or less. That was a value we used when we worked on this type of problem.

g_666485 · Dec 22, 2018

pmckechnie said:
190 ma may be ok or not ok. I don't know about the Genesis but a lot of high end cars may leave some of the computers on for a period of time. I have seen some cars keep some of the computers on for up to an hour or more. 190 ma for a hour is not a problem.
I'm sorry I can't be more helpful, other than saying don't expect the car to completely shut down. Think about some things like the car can be setting for a day or more and you can go to the Genesis Owners site and download an address to the GPS system in the car. How can that happen if the system is completely shut down?
Try this, connect your meter and run the leads outside the car some way. Turn every thing off and then go out , leaving the key fobs in the house, 2 hours later and without even touching the car see what the meter says then. It will probably show some drain but it should be below 25 ma or less. That was a value we used when we worked on this type of problem.

I did just that and the draw went down to 20 ma.

So this is now even more confusing if the problem continues. The only thing I’ve changed is the battery.

Going to test charging system tomorrow but I’ve driven for hours when the car is running just fine.

Elwood4u · Dec 28, 2018

So I did exactly that and it dropped to 20 ma. Good news so thanks for the tip.

I'm hoping through all of this I addressed whatever issue it had. Or it was the battery all along. It seems to be holding steady at 12.3 volts off so fingers crossed.