Hi everybody , I have a2000 4.0 ranger . my battery died after sitting to long in the cold ,it wasn't very good to begin with so wife bought me another, love her. Anyway it went dead again so I charged it and went searching on the tube, and found parasitic draw so I did the test . checked the under hood fuses and sure enough the number 1 50 amp fuse dropped to o,it dates I/p fuse panel . does that mean the panel in the cab , and where do I get wiring diagrams. Any help would be great. Thanks guys and gals.

 

Yes, maxi fuse 1 in engine bay fuse box powers cab fuse box fuses

But you don't want 0 amp draw, you want .03-.07 amp draw, the computer, the radio and the keyless entry system do need power all the time, not much

Power 2 diagram shows what maxi fuse 1 powers all the time, top left is where wire connects to cab fuse box
So those top fuses + fuse 26, plus fuses 18, 22 and 30

 

Thanks RonD I'll have to check again. ...I think I sent this to the wrong place.. Sorry. Thanks again

 

Just did another test. Pulled out all under hood fuses and #1-50 amp dropped to 0.01 then to 0.00. When the weather warms up a little more I'll check out the fuse box in the cab.

 

The 2000 Ranger(1995-2003) uses the GEM module to control cab electrics, it has a timer that is activated when key is off and all doors are closed
After 20-30min the GEM will open(deactivate) the Battery Saver relay, this cuts power to all cab lights, and GEM also goes to sleep

This can make testing for a drain harder because GEM is still drawing power until it goes to sleep

Try pulling out fuse 26 in the cab fuse box, this deactivates GEM Timer and Battery Saver relay

The computer, radio and keyless entry should still be drawing power, but .03-.07amps is all, 30-70milliamps

 

Thanks RonD. When I thaw out a little more I'll try that.

 

My glove box light had me scratching my head one time. The owners manual is so large, it slid the light socket sideways and the bulb was on all the time.

 

There is another simpler possibility that youve been replacing 3 batteries in s year.
You have a grounding problem. either short, or need to clean all grounding bots and connections.
Should be a quick check to see.