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electric drain

Subaru Legacy 1990 sedan There appears to be a electric drain while the car is parked/off. Although there is power for the dash lights, when trying to start, the starter turns once and then locks/clicks. Auto transmission locks and shifter will not move. If I recharge the battery, unlock transmission and put in neutral, the engine will start. Once started it can be driven normally. Then after sitting all night, the battery is discharged enough so again the starter turns once, then locks & clicks and transmission locks. Does anyone have any ideas?

Reply to
abrodin
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It could be a number of different things.

First off, are you sure the battery is good? Always get that checked first before diving into your electrical system.

Next, any type of vampiric drain should be readable as an amperage draw off the battery.

To diagnose where it's going, remove the positive cable from the terminal. Insert a multitester in serial making sure it's set to read amperage. Generally speaking a modern car should only be drawing milliamps of power when it's turned off. If it's correctly set up and you're reading amperage, the next step is to remove your fuses one by one and note any changes to the amperage draw. Start with any aftermarket items you may have had installed.

By going through in this fashion it will allow you to isolate the circuit in question and then diagnose the circuit itself. A few drains that I see often are: alarm systems, radios, faulty ignitions, broken automatic window switches, broken automatic lock switches, interior dome lights (door closed trigger doesn't activate correctly).

Jody

Reply to
Jody F. Kerr

Yeah, in my part of the country a battery is doing well to last more than 3 years. But in cooler states - 6+ is doable.

I wouldn't discount the possibility of a bad alternator (diode trio) - especially if pulling the fuses as outlined is of no help.

One simple thing, disconnect the battery overnight, reconnect. If it won't start - must be the battery, if it starts well - its a drain.

Carl

Reply to
Carl 1 Lucky Texan

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