Help needed, catastrophic electrical failure!
#31
Don (he's great!) has helped me out a lot, but those diagrams don't tell you everything, such as the normal quiescent current draw we should be seeing. When I checked mine I believe it was 85ma constant, with spikes to 1.7 amps at times.
(Like when you first reconnect the battery cable).
I pulled the XMsirius fuse, the interior lighting fuse, then put a jumper wire from the battery to the lead, then connect the meter from the battery to the lead, let the system quiet down, remove the jumper and could then see its actual draw. I think it was a tad high, but no data is available I could find.
If it becomes a problem I will put some more time into it.
(Like when you first reconnect the battery cable).
I pulled the XMsirius fuse, the interior lighting fuse, then put a jumper wire from the battery to the lead, then connect the meter from the battery to the lead, let the system quiet down, remove the jumper and could then see its actual draw. I think it was a tad high, but no data is available I could find.
If it becomes a problem I will put some more time into it.
#32
It could be the alternator headed south, however, I’m thinking dying cell or two in the battery! My alternator is the ten year old original, both times I had electrical issues, it was the battery toasting out! Not the alternator.
#33
You have to remember that the regulator is digital. It will be wild as you drive, if you need 15V it will give it to you if you need 12V it will give you 12V.
I have had 3 Walmart batteries die in a year each.
Usually everybody that sets out to find the "parasitic drain devil" end up wasting their time. Most circuits are controlled by the BCM. There are a couple of diodes that can fail, in the generator, the A/C etc. Mostly, if it is real, it is OnStar trying to "call home".
I have had 3 Walmart batteries die in a year each.
Usually everybody that sets out to find the "parasitic drain devil" end up wasting their time. Most circuits are controlled by the BCM. There are a couple of diodes that can fail, in the generator, the A/C etc. Mostly, if it is real, it is OnStar trying to "call home".
#36
On a stock HHR the RCDLR and OnStar and security and anything plugged into the cig lighters are about the only things that run on standby. The BCM goes to sleep and gets woke up by the RCDLR.
I'm pretty sure the radio has it's own battery for the clock and memory. Brake lights don't work if the key is out. Everything else I can think of has a relay. That leaves a bad diode in the generator/alternator turning it into a motor when it is not being driven.
Unplug the alternator, disconnect the battery and check for continuity between the output post and the case/ground. If I remember correctly, that will show a bad internal diode. That is memory work, so may be wrong.
I'm pretty sure the radio has it's own battery for the clock and memory. Brake lights don't work if the key is out. Everything else I can think of has a relay. That leaves a bad diode in the generator/alternator turning it into a motor when it is not being driven.
Unplug the alternator, disconnect the battery and check for continuity between the output post and the case/ground. If I remember correctly, that will show a bad internal diode. That is memory work, so may be wrong.
#40
I replaced the weakened battery with another AC Delco.
In the process of changing it I found the odd clamping mechanism on the negative terminal had a broken doodad that wedges it tighter as the screw is turned.
This is probably the culprit- all along. Even without any tightening the terminal is a snug fit, but maybe this was it.
Anyone having charging or batt voltage foibles should watch out for this.
They shouldn't have re-invented the battery terminal. The old type were just fine, thanks.
In the process of changing it I found the odd clamping mechanism on the negative terminal had a broken doodad that wedges it tighter as the screw is turned.
This is probably the culprit- all along. Even without any tightening the terminal is a snug fit, but maybe this was it.
Anyone having charging or batt voltage foibles should watch out for this.
They shouldn't have re-invented the battery terminal. The old type were just fine, thanks.