My battery is getting drained on a 2000 Ranger.

[saltydog]

Hi All. This is my first post, so I really don't know what I'm doing, but going to give it a go. Alittle of my background. I'm a 21 year retired Navy airdale.
Spent all my career working on aircraft and riding aircraft carriers. Planned to be an auto mechanic after retirement from the service, but that was changed. I went to auto school the last couple years in the service, but was offered an job running the Quality Assurance Dept. at a 3M plant that I couldn't refuse. I've been retired from 3M now for about seventeen years. That makes me an old rascal doesn't it, but I just can't keep my fingers off my 2000 Ford Ranger XLT. It's the Ranger that I've got problems with now and its kind of new fanglled for me now. Alot has changed since I went to auto mech school. Will close for now and think up on how to jot down my Ranger problems. Thanks all -- Salty

 

[saltydog]

Hope this is the way to continue. Now to the problem with my 2000 Ranger. Saw a simular problem in one of the other posts. Problem is the battery drains dead after about three days. Checked the battery and all cells had low on density check. Put a new battery in, with full charge and it drained dead in three days. Of course the temp was just above zero degrees. Performed a circuit drain and showed a .75amp drain. Started pulling fuses and the radio fuse #29 has a .24 amp drain. Went on and fuse #26 had .54 amp drain. The #26 fuse includes Battery Saver Relay, Electronic Shift Relay, Interior Lamp Relay, Electronic Shift Control Module, Dome/Map Lamp, GEM, and Instrument Cluster. I'm kind of at a loss on where to continue now and where these relays are located. Any help appreciated. Thx Salty

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! I've renamed your thread, and moved it into the Ranger section.

 

[saltydog]

Received the email that I've been moved into the Ranger section. Spent along time roaming around hoping to get into the right area. My question is: Is this the right spot. Hope, Hope Hope. Let me know. Thx.

 

[BrooklynBay]

You have a Ranger, so it should be the correct section for your vehicle.

 

[saltydog]

Just alittle correct update on my battery drain. Just went through the test again and I'm getting a .78 DCA drain. The correct breakdown is .54 DCA when the radio #29 fuse pulled and .24 DCA when the battery saver relay, interior lamp relay, etc. #26 fuse pulled. With both above fuses pulled, I get 0.0 drain. I'm alittle at lose on how to continue or where the components on fuse 26 are located. Checked the battery during charge and getting 14.6 volts. I'm getting by now with a battery disconnect attached to the negative battery terminal. I use the disconnect when I shutdown at night or whenever the truck is not used. Any help now would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[fark]

You might check your cables. I have a 2000 Ranger and when I would try to start it I would just get a click. I thought the battery was dead..( I live at 8,000 ft in New Mex.) but the battery was charged. I started moving the positive cable and found that when I got it just right the thing would start. So, if there is a corroded connection in the cable it could be a problem, and may even be draining your battery.
Hope this helps

 

[McCormack]

The only way to fix your problem is to find the offending circuit and then go through it wire by wire to find what's causing the drain. If you can't easily find what's causing the drain then if it were me I would go to my local auto electrical shop and pay them to pinpoint the problem... it would be money well spent.