5k tq battery drain / bad mileage

[Wallace White]

Jim -

I'm not sure about your current draw--I've wondered about that "factory
alarm" too. As for the mileage, I just did a spreadsheet on the mileage
I've gotten since buying the car 30k miles ago: 22.7 average. It does a
better with more highway driving: maybe 25 mpg. I've heard better from
others, though. I did manage 27 mpg on a few tanks during a
cross-country drive once.

I did replace the oxygen sensor just recently in hopes of finding better
mileage, but no big change yet. You can evaluate yours as described at
www.sjmautotechnik.com. Mine was still oscillating every second or so at
idle; the new one is closer to 2 Hz. Usual tune-up items like spark
plugs and distributor cap are worth a check, too.

- Wallace
  '87 5kcstq 167k

jim rose wrote:
> 
> the battery isnt actually running down (anymore), BUT...
> 
> w/ a test light connected between the neg batt post and the grount cable
> terminal (pos side connected to battery), the test light will pulse. Which i
> would have thought would be a draw...
> 
> pulling the #4 fuse, it goes away. iv'e done lots of digging and
> disconnecting trying to determine what the culprit is. I'm now thinking the
> factory alarm could be causing it . My fuse panel sticker indicates there is
> an "alarm" inthe loop, but i cant fint the "alarm controller" indicated in
> the bently.
> 
> anyone know where it lurks?
> 
> I'm also gettign LOUSY mileage - ive had the car a few months and just
> tested it - a whopping 21.6 mpg (mostly highway). seems low, any ideas /
> things to check first?  opinions on where it should be?
> 
> thanks a lot! - Happy 01
> jim
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