Parasitic draw 1998 Ranger
#1
Parasitic draw 1998 Ranger
My battery drains down in 3-5 days if left standing.
I performed a draw test beginning in Battery Junction Box.
Test showed 50 Amp fuse powering IP Panel was the draw.
Continued draw test with IP Panel Box.
Test showed .400 draw through GEM, reduced to .210 after tine-out.
Removing fuse 26 (Battery Saver Relay power) drops draw to .010
Replaced Battery Saver Relay and still have .400 draw, reducing to .210 after timeout
Some threads I have read said this was acceptable draw (after timeout). Battery is fairly new. Is this load acceptable, or, too high?
Where should I look from here to determine battery drain?
I performed a draw test beginning in Battery Junction Box.
Test showed 50 Amp fuse powering IP Panel was the draw.
Continued draw test with IP Panel Box.
Test showed .400 draw through GEM, reduced to .210 after tine-out.
Removing fuse 26 (Battery Saver Relay power) drops draw to .010
Replaced Battery Saver Relay and still have .400 draw, reducing to .210 after timeout
Some threads I have read said this was acceptable draw (after timeout). Battery is fairly new. Is this load acceptable, or, too high?
Where should I look from here to determine battery drain?
#2
RF Veteran
iTrader: (1)
No, not acceptable
.03-.07 is acceptable, 30-70mA, computer and radio use .04, .03 is keyless entry if so equipped, but have seen it at .08
Yours is .2, 200mA
So something is using extra power
Have seen SJB(smart junction box) get corroded connections and cause a power drain
SJB is the cab fuse box
It has larger wire connectors that can be removed so you can look at the pins for corrosion
I assume you have pulled fuses one at a time?
.03-.07 is acceptable, 30-70mA, computer and radio use .04, .03 is keyless entry if so equipped, but have seen it at .08
Yours is .2, 200mA
So something is using extra power
Have seen SJB(smart junction box) get corroded connections and cause a power drain
SJB is the cab fuse box
It has larger wire connectors that can be removed so you can look at the pins for corrosion
I assume you have pulled fuses one at a time?
#3
#4
RF Veteran
iTrader: (1)
#5
I finally narrowed down the draw. Now I need help understanding why it's happening and how to fix.
In the Aux. Relay Box (diagram) it shows two larger relays in the top of the box. However, in my Ranger, there are spots for four of the smaller relays (like those on the bottom of the box). My Ranger has the top two slots filled with two small relays instead of the one large one shown AND one smaller relay in the left hand side of the lower slots in place of the one larger relay.
The diagram says that the top relay should be the Indicator Flasher Relay. Would my Ranger be using the two smaller ones as the same function? The mystery is that if I remove the top, left-hand relay only, the draw drops to acceptable levels (.10). If I replace the relay with a known good relay, the draw goes back up to .21. If the connector was shorted, wouldn't it still show the higher draw with the relay removed? These relays are normally open, correct?
What would cause this condition?
The only thing I haven't disconnected on Fuse 26 is the Instrument Cluster. Would something in the IP back feed through the Indicator Relay? Could anything in the GEM back feed into this? I'm at a loss as to where to go from here.
In the Aux. Relay Box (diagram) it shows two larger relays in the top of the box. However, in my Ranger, there are spots for four of the smaller relays (like those on the bottom of the box). My Ranger has the top two slots filled with two small relays instead of the one large one shown AND one smaller relay in the left hand side of the lower slots in place of the one larger relay.
The diagram says that the top relay should be the Indicator Flasher Relay. Would my Ranger be using the two smaller ones as the same function? The mystery is that if I remove the top, left-hand relay only, the draw drops to acceptable levels (.10). If I replace the relay with a known good relay, the draw goes back up to .21. If the connector was shorted, wouldn't it still show the higher draw with the relay removed? These relays are normally open, correct?
What would cause this condition?
The only thing I haven't disconnected on Fuse 26 is the Instrument Cluster. Would something in the IP back feed through the Indicator Relay? Could anything in the GEM back feed into this? I'm at a loss as to where to go from here.
#6
RF Veteran
iTrader: (1)
In 1998 fuse 26 powers the battery saver relay, and all its connections(lights), this relay is in that relay box, if most likely the relay that ON full time because it should be
The GEM grounds the battery saver relay for 30min or so after key is out and doors are closed, then it "goes to sleep" after unGrounding the battery saver relay turning off any lights that may have been left on, the "battery saver" part of the name
So that relay has full time 12v and is only shut off after 30min
Key off
Pull fuse 26 and see what amp draw is, should be .03-.07amp
If not check other fuses
If it drops then put fuse 26 back in and pull battery saver relay, see if it drops, it should
Pull other relays in that box one at a time
Should be power window one-touch relay, and accessory delay relay, this all depends on vehicle options
Also 3 power door lock relays
Park light relay
Maybe horn relay
The flasher in a Ranger, there is just one 1995 and up, is usually under the dash, a blue flasher on its own
The GEM grounds the battery saver relay for 30min or so after key is out and doors are closed, then it "goes to sleep" after unGrounding the battery saver relay turning off any lights that may have been left on, the "battery saver" part of the name
So that relay has full time 12v and is only shut off after 30min
Key off
Pull fuse 26 and see what amp draw is, should be .03-.07amp
If not check other fuses
If it drops then put fuse 26 back in and pull battery saver relay, see if it drops, it should
Pull other relays in that box one at a time
Should be power window one-touch relay, and accessory delay relay, this all depends on vehicle options
Also 3 power door lock relays
Park light relay
Maybe horn relay
The flasher in a Ranger, there is just one 1995 and up, is usually under the dash, a blue flasher on its own
#7
In 1998 fuse 26 powers the battery saver relay, and all its connections(lights), this relay is in that relay box, if most likely the relay that ON full time because it should be
The GEM grounds the battery saver relay for 30min or so after key is out and doors are closed, then it "goes to sleep" after unGrounding the battery saver relay turning off any lights that may have been left on, the "battery saver" part of the name
So that relay has full time 12v and is only shut off after 30min
Key off
Pull fuse 26 and see what amp draw is, should be .03-.07amp
If not check other fuses
If it drops then put fuse 26 back in and pull battery saver relay, see if it drops, it should
Pull other relays in that box one at a time
Should be power window one-touch relay, and accessory delay relay, this all depends on vehicle options
Also 3 power door lock relays
Park light relay
Maybe horn relay
The flasher in a Ranger, there is just one 1995 and up, is usually under the dash, a blue flasher on its own
The GEM grounds the battery saver relay for 30min or so after key is out and doors are closed, then it "goes to sleep" after unGrounding the battery saver relay turning off any lights that may have been left on, the "battery saver" part of the name
So that relay has full time 12v and is only shut off after 30min
Key off
Pull fuse 26 and see what amp draw is, should be .03-.07amp
If not check other fuses
If it drops then put fuse 26 back in and pull battery saver relay, see if it drops, it should
Pull other relays in that box one at a time
Should be power window one-touch relay, and accessory delay relay, this all depends on vehicle options
Also 3 power door lock relays
Park light relay
Maybe horn relay
The flasher in a Ranger, there is just one 1995 and up, is usually under the dash, a blue flasher on its own
I had checked draw by pulling the Battery Saver relay before. After time-out, the draw only drops to.210.
Pulling Fuse 26, the draw drops down to .09-.10.(Meter set to 20m)
Below is what m,y Aux. Relay Box actually looks like. I don't know what Relays "A", "B", or "C" are used for, however, I found that Relay A is the one causing the draw. When I remove it, the draw drops to .10 (like the other circuits). When I replace this relay, the draw remains .210 after time-out. What are these relays for?
According to my information, Fuse 26 powers the following:
Interior Lamp Relay
Power Window Relay (
Map Light
GEM
Instrument Cluster
I have disconnected everything except the Instrument Cluster. Nothing shows a reduction in the draw.
Should I disconnect the Instrument Cluster to draw test, OR, should I be pursuing the Relay "A" which shows a reduction in draw? What circuit is Relay "A"?
Should I be chasing the circuits controlled by the GEM?
#8
RF Veteran
iTrader: (1)
These are the 3 power distribution diagrams I have for 1998 Ranger
Page 2 shows fuse 26 only powering battery saver relay, so unplugging either should show the same amp drop
Unless previous owner tapped fuse 26 for something else
In 1999 it was the same
In 2000 however several other devices were added to fuse 26 but its still battery saver relay power
Page 2 shows fuse 26 only powering battery saver relay, so unplugging either should show the same amp drop
Unless previous owner tapped fuse 26 for something else
In 1999 it was the same
In 2000 however several other devices were added to fuse 26 but its still battery saver relay power
#9
RF Veteran
iTrader: (1)
#10
These are the 3 power distribution diagrams I have for 1998 Ranger
Page 2 shows fuse 26 only powering battery saver relay, so unplugging either should show the same amp drop
Unless previous owner tapped fuse 26 for something else
In 1999 it was the same
In 2000 however several other devices were added to fuse 26 but its still battery saver relay power
Page 2 shows fuse 26 only powering battery saver relay, so unplugging either should show the same amp drop
Unless previous owner tapped fuse 26 for something else
In 1999 it was the same
In 2000 however several other devices were added to fuse 26 but its still battery saver relay power
I have been going by diagrams I got through this forum in other threads. Apparently, those diagrams are not correct for 1998 Ranger.
There are no alterations or additions to the wiring in the truck.
I reran the draw test with the Battery Saver relay removed and waited longer for the time out. It dropped to .05. I also reran the draw test with Fuse 26 pulled and will waited longer again and verified they are the same (drop to .05). Does that mean that the draw I am trying to reduce is in the Relay "A" circuit I mentioned?
Do you have an electrical diagram for the Aux Relay Box?
I'd like to identify what all these relays are, especially since my diagram doesn't match what is in the truck. So far, the only thing that drops the load to acceptable is pulling Relay "A"
Last edited by dodgedh2; 08-24-2020 at 05:54 PM.
#11
RF Veteran
iTrader: (1)
No, I don't have the relay box diagram, couldn't locate it on line
I show the door lock relays, 2 of them in there
One touch relay for power windows
Electric clutch relay, 4x4 only
parking lamp relay
I found this for a 1999 Ranger, is shows relay slots, 1-5 for each of the 8 relay locations
I show the door lock relays, 2 of them in there
One touch relay for power windows
Electric clutch relay, 4x4 only
parking lamp relay
I found this for a 1999 Ranger, is shows relay slots, 1-5 for each of the 8 relay locations
#12
No, I don't have the relay box diagram, couldn't locate it on line
I show the door lock relays, 2 of them in there
One touch relay for power windows
Electric clutch relay, 4x4 only
parking lamp relay
I found this for a 1999 Ranger, is shows relay slots, 1-5 for each of the 8 relay locations
I show the door lock relays, 2 of them in there
One touch relay for power windows
Electric clutch relay, 4x4 only
parking lamp relay
I found this for a 1999 Ranger, is shows relay slots, 1-5 for each of the 8 relay locations
This is really getting frustrating. The 1999 Aux Relay Box diagram shows the same layout as what I have in this Ranger, however, the position of the relays is different from the diagram that I had been working from. I know that the diagram that I worked from is incorrect due to the difference in the upper portion of the box. The 1999 diagram shows the Battery Saver Relay in a different position that the diagram that I used. I am now assuming that the 1999 diagram is correct for the 1998 also and will redo my tests. IF the draw is from the Battery Saver Relay,circuit, what does this relay control?
#13
RF Veteran
iTrader: (1)
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