How To Fix an Electrical Drain on your Car Battery for Porsche 993. (Two methods - DIY)
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- Опубліковано 25 сер 2024
- Hi Everyone,
The battery has been going dead in our 1995 Porsche 993 and in this video I go over a couple methods you can use to find electrical parasitic draws in your car’s electrical system. The first method is for older cars that you are fine with removing the negative battery cable and the second is great for newer cars where disruptions to power can cause big headaches. All you’ll need is a good Volt/Ohm/Amp multimeter and a little critical thinking. You’ll want to consult your owner’s manual to locate all the fuses and electrical components for your particular car.
The first method involves removing the negative battery cable and splicing in an ammeter to directly read the parasitic current draw. By removing fuses we can directly see just who is causing all the fuss.
The second method involves measuring the voltage drops across all the fuses. All fuses have some small resistance and if there is a current, we will see that effect in a voltage drop across the fuse terminals according to Ohm’s Law (V=I*R). I provide the resistance for the popular fuse sizes in the video so you can use I=V/R and calculate the approximate current, but if you would like to download a neat chart, I came across this site: info.powerprobe... Knowing your voltage across the fuse and its size, you can use the char to read the current flowing through the fuse. Pretty neat, huh?
I also get out my handy-dandy Solar battery tester to make sure we have a healthy battery to begin with 😊
Tools and parts:
• Solar BA5 battery tester/checker: goo.gl/dH6uoR
or Solar BA7: goo.gl/x84nXy)
• Large Multimeter: Cen-Tech 11 Function Digital Multimeter with Audible Continuity: goo.gl/vazi35
• Small Multimeter: Velleman DVM850BL-VP Digital Multimeter with Backlight and Protective Holster, 3-1/2 Digit, 5.4" H x 2.7" W x 1.2" D: goo.gl/GVs26k
• Driew Double Ended Leads Test Clips Crocodile Alligator Jumper Lead Set Alligator Clips Connector 10 pcs Pack (50cm,5 colors): goo.gl/YNaDuk
• Tools to remove your negative battery cable.
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Due to factors beyond the control of “Heidi and Franny’s Garage”, We cannot guarantee against improper use or unauthorized modifications of this information. “Heidi and Franny’s Garage” assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. Use this information at your own risk. “Heidi and Franny’s Garage”recommends safe practices when working on vehicles and or with tools seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of “Heidi and Franny’s Garage”, no information contained in this video shall create any expressed or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage, or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or from the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not “Heidi and Franny’s Garage”.
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Hi Everyone, I mentioned a website you can download a chart to read the current from the fuse voltage drop: info.powerprobe.com/fusechartsdownload
I used the Solar battery checker again (if you haven't seen the 996 battery change video). Much easier to see! You can get one here:
• Solar BA5 battery tester/checker goo.gl/dH6uoR
(or Solar BA7 goo.gl/x84nXy)
Other Tools and parts:
• Large Multimeter: Cen-Tech 11 Function Digital Multimeter with Audible Continuity goo.gl/vazi35
• Small Multimeter: Velleman DVM850BL-VP Digital Multimeter with Backlight and Protective Holster, 3-1/2 Digit, 5.4" H x 2.7" W x 1.2" D goo.gl/GVs26k
• Driew Double Ended Leads Test Clips Crocodile Alligator Jumper Lead Set Alligator Clips Connector 10 pcs Pack (50cm,5 colors) goo.gl/YNaDuk
• Tools to remove your negative battery cable.
Any question, comments, suggestions, just holler :) Franny
👍
That website for the voltage drop chart is dead now. I found a very comprehensive one here: www.eestechlink.com/tips/files/VoltDropChartStandardFuse.pdf
Every time I watch one of your fixit videos, I become more impressed with your ability to methodically diagnose a problem. Franny, you must be an engineer by trade. What’s even better is you’re able to communicate the problem and the fix in a very clear explanation. Keep up the great job! And, Thanks!
Yea! Thanks so much. I have a vacuum issue with the 3.2 Carrera that will be coming up. Those are always fun to run down... Franny
Another way to check if the light was on is to touch it, it will be hot to the touch.Very easy to do.Great video !
I admire you diagnostic ability.
Thanks! F
The clarity of your explanation is such a strength. Thanks for posting this.
You bet! Thanks!
Great video, very very helpful. Your ability to figure all this electrical problems out is unbelievable. I have a 91 964 trying to figure out why my battery dies within four days in the garage.
Thanks again.
Glad it was helpful :)
Hey Franny and Heidi - The wife and I discovered your channel today. We watched several videos and found you guys to be quite entertaining and very informative. The in depth reviews of your vehicles are really great. Watching the vids of your 308 and 356 is probably the next best thing to actually owning them! So, we're subscribed and got a lot of catching up to do. Thanks so much.... oh and the car museum was awesome too!
+Bourne Accident awesome! Welcome. Check out Shamu’s Slumber. Like and share. Also check out the Gimmick Rally! Heidi
Just wanted to say thank you for tte great learning info videos...makes owning these cars so much easier for the DYI guys and gals...
Awesome. Love the geek out info. Great troubleshooting procedure. Looking forward to the next one.
The best video on Battery drainage issue. Well done!
Thanks!
Thank you for taking the time to posting this topic. Very informative and well presented - Please keep the 993 content coming :)
Thanks! You bet. Will do :)
Very well explained and great job showing the multimeter in real time!!! Thank you for the videos and keep em coming.
You bet! Thanks!
Great video. I'm going to share it with the Scirocco forum....... these old cars love to draw some power from time to time and this video will help on how to track them down. Thanks.
Thanks Christopher! All sorts of things can go a bit wonky. The 3.2 Carrera had a bad split in the wiring in the door jamb. What a mess! The PO put aluminium foil over the fuse. You know, because it kept blowing! Obviously just needed a bigger fuse which ended up being the wiring ;) Thanks for the shout out! Franny
Awesome, thanks. Tracked down my draw and coincidentally, it was the exact same bonnet switch! Cheers
Ron Wolfe awesome.
Hi, just wanted to add this is an excellent video. I have a b;stard drain on my 993. I will use this method to check.
Franny, you’re a genius! This was an excellent educational video, but it’ still above my mental pay grade. :-)
Wow, what a great video.
Very helpful and informative. Troubleshooting at it's best!
Thanks!
Fantastic tutorial Fran as always :) Having worked with electronics for many years, it's quite common for mechanical switches to go faulty so that is a good place to start.
+scanspeak00 yes!
Impressive, I simultaneously feel like a dummy but now smarter!
That was damn impressive!
Super helpful video! Very methodical. I hope this helps me find my parasitic draw on my 964 :)
Let me know if you get stuck.
Excellent tutorial! I really liked your voltage drop math calculation as well (using resistance of fuse to convert voltage drop into current draw). I actually saw a Humble Mechanic video on the same topic, but... your presentation was easier to understand :-)
Thanks! That's a huge complement! I really like the Humble Mechanic :)
Excellent......
Smart way to solve this, well done
Thanks! I really like how that all turned out. It finally lead me to an out of adjustment bonnet latch. That had been bothering me since we got the car! Pretty cool you can look for drains by checking IR drops across the fuses...
Professional!
Suggest that you set your smartphone to movie mod and start filming the interior of trunk or engine bay with lid shut.
Just like a EE would do it. :) Well done!
WOW! Electronics and suspension geometry have always befuddled me and YOU made it simple! Can you recommend those e-meters for me?
As I may have mentioned in other comments on other video's of yours, I used to race (Time Trial / SOLO I) a 1997 Dodge Neon ACR (1 of 6,147 ever made). I did a lot of my own work like brakes and ICEMAN Conical Air induction, taking out the air bags, installing 3 inch wide 6 point harnesses and the like, but I ended up selling the car after about 10 years because it developed an ignition short, and I just sort of stared at it, blinking quickly, befuddled. The guy who bought it told me it was the spark plugs I was using - the 4 prong Premium plugs that drew just too much power from the coil, and it burned out the coil. My racing buds looked at me, shook their heads and tried to revoke my GEAR HEAD card. I also went from the ACR's OEM coil springs of 150 lbs linear in front and 120 linear in back to 750 lbs linear in front and 600 lbs linear in back - darn thing rode like a go-kart but man, I hardly ever had to use brakes! (Plus, from the factory, I could get nearly 3 degrees negative camber out of the fronts and went with 0 toe because it only had 150 HP and momentum around the track was really important. It came from the factory with KONI adjustables at all 4 corners. A $10,000 car brand new, with a different steering ratio, shorter throw shifting with VERY precise gates, no A/C, sound deadening, no power windows or radio. It was a factory built race care, and you wouldn't believe the factory incentives for the SCCA wheel to wheel guys - $5,000 for every national win, $2,000 for regional wins, and you could get parts at bare minimum - doors for $100. LOVED that car, and loved watching the Miata drivers disappear in my rear view mirror. No one that I've driven with will ever look at an econo-box and snicker again!
But, because I am a recovering politician, I digress... I LOVE the way you explain things! being in IT and having to diagnose system problems, what you do really aligns with my way of thinking. I love the way you diagnose the problem. Knowledge of how EVERYTHING works is key.
That said, have you ever done a suspension video? I would LOVE (!!!!!!!) to see you compare different types of suspension (strut/torsion bar, geometry, how they work, common problems and fixes). Hope to see something like this either in your library or in the future! Also, the link is broken... Just FYI. THANK YOU!!!!
We will be getting to the suspension on the 308. Should be interesting :)
The latch switch reminded me of a night having wobbly pops back in university. We got into a debate of when a fridge door closes, does the light go off? So my friend pushed on the switch with his finger and the light went off. I told him, but the door is open when you do that, so you can’t 100% say that the light goes out when the door is closed. I talked him into taking the shelves out of the fridge so he could climb inside and close the door. Conclusion,? The light does go out when the fridge door is closed.
That's funny! So, did you let him out? Classic Schrödinger's cat!
Jack Shaheen He’s never been heard from since.
Dwayne Rose lol. Ha ha ha ha ha Heidi
Hello Heidi,
can you do a video on on the oil cooler fan on the 993. How can you test them and troubleshoot?
Benjamin De Armas I am not sure what you are looking for. Franny generally does work on the car for preventative maintenance and fixing things that have gone wrong. Without knowing what you are referring to (and not having an issue with our 993, I am not sure. I suggest an email through our website. Franny can answer you there if you need an answer. Heidi
Not only are your videos amazing as many people have said but in watching this one I had the exact same problem that you found on the bonnet of your 993. Any suggestions on how to fix it?
Thanks! I totally should have put that it... I just adjusted the strike of the hood latch and that did it. Pretty simple fix in the end :)
That 993 is disturbingly clean......but I digress. Great video as usual. I need to ferret out a draw on my 997.1 and have a clamp meter as well as a Fluke. Have you used a a clamp meter to merely diagnose the draw before attacking the fuse box?
I'm not sure it would be sensitive enough, but totally worth giving it a try! Might be difficult to get to some of the wiring though...
So what exactly was done to fix the problem? Is there a metal switch under the latch that was replaced? Or just cleaned?
Right... That was a bit confusing... So, in the end the problem was that the front bonnet latch was out of adjustment and was sitting just a bit to low. That required pressing hard on the hood and it was possible that it wouldn't latch completely. When that happened, the light would stay on because the micro-switch would not quite get triggered. It was really close. I adjusted the latch and raised it ever so much. I also sprayed contact cleaner into the switch just in case it was also a bit dirty. It has been great so far, but I want to drive the car a bit and be sure. Sorry for the confusion. Franny
Would love to have known the fix - if the front latch, was was done to resolve the draw? Were you able to repair? I have a problem with my front latch too, and I just have to keep the fuse for the interior lights unplugged....annoying.
Yes, it was the front latch. It just needed an adjustment. For me, it was a height adjustment.
@@HeidiandFranny Thank you :-)
Really useful and informative, always good to learn something new, thanks!
I want to check for parasitic draw in my 997 GT3, and the fuse voltage drop technique you suggest sounds ideal. However, the fuses are under the driver's side dash, and as soon as the car is unlocked (not to mention the door opened) all manner of systems wake up and start draining power. I've been trying to figure out a way to check the current draw while the car is in "sleep mode", but I'm kinda stuck, any suggestions? I miss my 993 for it's simplicity! :)
Hi Sam, after you open your door, try setting the door latch with the door open. I believe there are no door pins in the 997, just the actual latch. See if that will trick the car into thinking the door is closed. These newer cars do go on for a bit when you open doors or even just put the key in the ignition (that arms the air bags for instance). Franny
Thanks, I'll give that a try!
Hi Franny. 2 Questions. Is the Solar battery tester suitable for use with 6v systems as in the 356? Can the trouble shooting techniques be used with a 6v system?
I really enjoyed the video. Thanks!
I didn't see anything on the Solar for 6V. My guess it would just think it was a bad battery, but it may still read the Ah... And, yes this method would work just fine on a 6V car for finding a draw. In fact, better as the current dray is typically double that of a 12V car.
@@HeidiandFranny Thanks!
not many early 911 videos?
We did a big series (engine out) on our 3.2 Carrera here: ua-cam.com/video/-2rvMKMqQ2k/v-deo.html
Let me know what you think!
It's usually the glovebox.
My faulty alarm system was sucking my battery.
Super common...