Battery Draw Amperage

[DeWitt Harrison]

The 40 mA number would be about right, at least for a '88 5ktq.
I don't have schematics handy to try to deduce what is drawing
current that shouldn't. 200 mA is about one small light bulb's draw.
For example, the trunk light switch has often been known to fail to
open when the trunk lid is closed.

DeWitt Harrison

----- Original Message ----- 
From: David Sexton
To: 200q20v at audifans.com
Sent: Saturday, June 19, 2010 12:36 PM
Subject: Battery Draw Amperage


Hello all;
The other day I was checking for a battery draw on the Avant, and I had my
multimeter between the negative terminal and negative cable and was watching
the amperage draw on the battery as I pulled each fuse out of the fuse
block, one at a time.
With everything in place, doors closed, lights out, at rest, there is a .2
amp draw on the battery.  Is that too much?  Would that be enough to be
draining my battery in about 4-5 days?
The battery in my car is only a matter of months old, and is the second one
I've put in the car.  It is the correct European type battery from
Carquest.
I've checked voltage at the battery with the car running, 13.85v.  I've also
checked it at the alternator and it's about 14.00-14.5v.  It appears to me
that the voltage output of the alternator is fine...??
My multimeter will only read up to 10A, so I can't check the amperage output
of the alternator.
I've checked the battery cable under the passenger floor and it doesn't look
corroded, and the voltage difference between alternator/battery doesn't seem
to be much.
I can charge the battery with my charger in the garage, and it holds it
charge just fine.  But, when I hook it up in the car and the car sits for
several days it will be noticeably discharged, or after five or more days or
so, it won't even start.
The alternator is a reman. Bosch unit, and it's been on the car for four or
five years, although with not many miles.
Any ideas?  Is the .2A draw too much?
When pulling fuses, the only two fuses that made a difference were the #4
fuse (dropped the draw from .2A to .04A), and the #19 fuse (dropped from .2A
to .178A).
Thanks,

Dave Sexton