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How to find a parasitic draw

A PD is a drain of the system that happens while the vehicle sits. To perform the test you need a multimeter with amper capability. It must operate on scales of 20 Amps to 200 mAmps (for very small current draws)

Get prepared
Start with a fully charged battery.
Should show 12.6 volts as measured by the multimeter
Then make sure nothing on the vehicle is ON : remove key from ignition, close the doors...
Prepare your multimeter :
Put the red lead to the slot for Amps (sometimes there is one also for miliAmps)
Set the multimeter to DC / 10 Amps
Perform the test on the GROUND side (negative / black) : it will prevent from an accidental short.
The test itself #1 : Is there a draw ?
Loosen the battery cable and put Red lead into the battery cable
Touch the negative battery terminal with the other lead
It will result in showing the Amp draw on the multimeter (how read): a normal draw is 50 mili Amps. Anything more than this level shows an amp draw.
for example a 3.43 Amp means a significant draw on the system.
The test #2 : finding the draw
Connect the multimeter leads (one to battery cable, the other to battery negative terminal) using plastic clamps in order to have the amps measured continuously.
Now check the fuses one by one
When a fused is pulled out AND the Amp draw on the multimeter falls it means that the fault circuit is found
BE CAREFUL : as the whole current goes through your multimeter, you must DISCONNECT IT while opening the door to come into the car.
Find a way to neutralize the door switch (using a peace of wood and a clamp) before reconnecting the multimeter.
Once the affected circuit is found
Using the fuse map find the name of the circuit
Using the wiring diagram see where this circuit can be wrong.
Additional:
If no drain is found with the higher Amp scale on the multimeter switch to a lower scale.
If you see no drain at all : be suspicious about your multimeter which may have a blown fuse


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