Page 1 of 1

Alternator drawing current with ign off

Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2017 7:49 pm
by GeneB
Having a problem with the battery going dead in about a week with no driving. PO told me he had this problem & put a shutoff switch on battery. Checking today I disconnected all wires from + battery going to the starter relay. Connected amp meter between +bat wire and other wires one at a time with key off.
One wire drawing about 40 ma that goes to radio (Aftermarket). There are 2 other wires swaged to same terminal. Haven't found where they go yet.
One wire drawing about 120 ma. This wire goes directly to Alternator. It is the only wire I see on back of Alternator. Does that mean it has a built in regulator? This same wire was drawing 160 am when I first checked then going from 100 am to 120 am after I started car & then shut it off. It took about 1 minute to get to 120am

What is going on with alternator causing it to draw current with ign off?

Re: Alternator drawing current with ign off

Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2017 11:34 am
by StPro
Have the Alternator tested. Most likely a bad diode in the alternator. They act like a one way check valve to change ac to dc . If a diode goes bad it will drain the battery.

Re: Alternator drawing current with ign off

Posted: Sat Oct 07, 2017 11:00 am
by GeneB
Going to take Alternator to the Auto Electric shop & have them check it out.