Ford Repair: electrical, t drain, charging system
QuestionI have unplugged the alternator from the system but still had a small amp draw, should I have any type of amp draw at all while car is at rest? When you mention the charging system is there anything else that comes into play besides the alternator?-------------------------
Followup To
Question -
I have an 89 LX coupe mustang 5.0. I don't drive the car very often and my battery drains in about a week or a week and a half. The battery was replaced but still drains. I have a small amp draw on the 15amp circuit that the manual says it is for the power windows, fuel door, glove box light ect. I can pull that fuse and lose that amp draw. I have removed all bulbs and drivers side plugs for the power windows and battery doesn't drain. The problem is that everything on that circuit according to the manual with the exception of the door chime works. I would figure that if there is a short somewhere that particular bulb, motor ect. wouldn't work. I've given up on trying to follow the scematic or tracing wires or wire plugs. Any info. will help. Thanks.
Answer -
It doesnt make much sence, i would check the charging system. If you had a short that caused a power drain the fuses would have burned out. If the motor was burned up the fues would have burned. The fuses stop protect against any short. It may be in your ignition that something keeps the car from shutting off, but my guess is that its the charging system.
AnswerYou shouldn't have any amp draw when the car is at rest. Keep in mind that when the car is shut off the gauges are not on either. Disregard anything the amp gauge is reading while the car is off as it is not engadged anyway. As far as the charging system, it is only the alternator, the voltage regulator, and the battery that play a role in charging the battery. Being that you have an 89, i would guess that your car has an internaly regulated alternator, but check for a voltage regulator anyway. It would be in any good repair manual.
