Dead Battery Problem

[Texas Chaser]

I was wondering if anyone else has run into this. I am having a random dead battery problem.
I have a new battery (second new one), new terminals, cables, etc. Alternator voltage checks good, amps check good. It is charging and runs fine when started. Once in a while if it sits for a while the battery runs down. Does not do this all the time, which is what is puzzling.

Acts as if there is a drain somewhere, but not all the time. I have been unable to locate a drain on the battery anywhere.

I hope someone has run into this before. This is terribly inconvenient!
Truck is a 92 Ford Explorer.
Thanks!

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David
See you in Oz

 

[yoyoracing]

What kind of battery are you using? I had this problem and replaced the battery with an optima (red top) and haven't had it since.

 

[Texas Chaser]

Well it had a brand new Walmart Everstart in it. Never had a problem with these before, in fact we used to use them on some fire dept vehicles. Recently switched it to a Diehard Gold....both were brand new and problem still happens.
Any healthy system with no problems should not normally run down a battery in a matter of hours like that. My problem is that it is intermittent.
I was hoping maybe someone else had the problem before and found the cause of the drain.



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David
See you in Oz

 

[KJB]

I had a similar problem on a '92 that I used to have. The problem turn out to be a relay that would stay energized when the ignition was turned off. I don't remember which one it is but it is located under the hood. Hope this helps.

 

[roadkill]

My "92 also does the same thing once in a while. Replaced the regulator on the alternator cause of an intermitant charging fluctuation, and haven't noticed it happening again.???
I would like to know what relay is prone to get stuck?
Good luck!

 

[Texas Chaser]

Thanks to another poster mentioning the relay, I got to looking in that direction. By pulling the negative cable off and on, with the key off, I could hear several relays kicking on and off and the fuel pump cycling, which with the key off it should not do.

To make a long story short, on the passenger side, behind the battery, there is a master system buss with some fuses. This entire plastic casing just lifts up and out. Underneath that is another plastic casing that also lifts out. There are 3 maybe more relays mounted in this lower casing.

My problem was that one of the relays was stuck, causing it to feed back to some of the other relays in the series, keeping them on and thus causing a battery drain.

I discovered it accidentally be removing the relays from their mounts and with all the movement the problem quit. I found the offending relay by jiggling each one. The bad one had a rattle sound in it.

Maybe this will help some of you find that problem. Thanks to the poster that lead me to the relays.

The relay that I had a problem with, I have no idea what circuit it controls but the codes on it are: E558 11433 A2A



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David
See you in Oz

 

[Texas Chaser]

BTW, I also had the charge needle "pulsing". I removed the charge wire coming from the battery where it attaches to the Battery side of the starter solenoid, and put it directly to the battery terminals. That fixed that.

In other words, move it from the solenoid to the battery directly. Least path of charging resistance.



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David
See you in Oz

 

[JRChurch]

Which relay??

I found the battery drain problem with my Explorer. When the battery is dead and I hook up the battery jumper cables, I hear a click and hum for about two seconds, obviously a relay and fuel pump or something runs for a secpond or two. Which relay controls this function ? It is the problem relay that is sticking.

Thaksa million,
Rick in Tennessee

 

[TPLYNCH]

The fuel pump relay is in the black box under the hood.

 

[stroud13]

I recently fixed this same problem.

You're right, it is the fuel pump relay. A new one was $12 at Autozone. The aftermarket relay looks a little different than stock, but I believe that's because they use the same aftermarket relay to replace two or more stock ones.

My fuel pump relay happened to be in the middle relay in the relay rack mounted underneath the fuse box under the hood (passenger side on top of the wheel well).

I broke the whole rack trying to remove it - it was very cold outside and had to zip tie the whole thing back together. But the truck runs and no dead battery.

Good luck!

 

[TSTONE]

great input folks - i have had this problem since new. i'm on my 6th battery (3-warranty, 3-nonwarranty), and since i have had to purchase them i have been buying what ever the biggest CCA battery is, and i keep dead celling them. the problem is as you described, intermitant, when sitting for more than 48hrs, and no one has been able to tell me why this has been happening, they keep blaming my stereo set-up, but the only time its on is well driving. does anyone know the part number for the relay or can i just ask for a fuel pump relay?

thanks todd

 

[stroud13]

I don't have the part #. Just ask for a fuel pump relay - they had two different ones, but one of them worked for both applications. I installed that one (MR12 I think?).

 

[TSTONE]

thanks thats what i'll do - question for you have had any personal experiences w/ the dynomax products, i found a source that will sell me a super turbo catback kit for $107 delivered, it seems to good to be true
todd

 

[stroud13]

I don't have any experience with it. I'd like to hear about yours if you decide to get it!

 

[TSTONE]

no prob, i'll let you know how it goes, i just ordered it from summit, they had the best price @ 104 delivered, figured @ that price i couldn't go wrong

 

[TSTONE]

can anyone tell me exactly which relay (position wise) to replace on a 93' ? is it the same as the 91' (in the middle)?
todd