I have a 2000 Durango SLT 4.7.
Its a new batter that bought last Oct, went out to start her the other day and it was dead. After jumpin her the check gauge came on, it was ready 18v, changed out the alternator thinking it was due, 113,000 miles..
How would you find out whats draining the batter?

Thanks.
John

 

get an amp meter and hook it up to the battery, let the draw settle down (close the door, turn off all the lights, key off ect) and start pulling fuses until the draw disappears. Keep in mind that there is supposed to be some draw from it, but not more than a couple of amps.

 

Thank for how to,

I checked it out with a apm meter, pulled the fuzes one at a time and the battery stayed @ 12.61... Fluctuated up n down by .1 but never showing any drain on the battery so I'm guessing it was the alternate, Only time will tell i guess..

 

Usually if the alternator goes bad, it will drain the battery before you go to park it for the night. If this is the case, jump start it and check the battery voltage to make sure it's not low and if it keeps decreasing, you know the alternator is toast.

 

Yeah, I had it out the night before, the next morning she was dead so I got lucky she didn't stall on me driving it home that night.... Got lucky, hopefully everything is ok now....

 

you realize to check amps you have to hook the meter up like this

-|battery|+-----|amp meter|------power using device

right?

hooking it up like this

-|battery|+
| |
-|meter| +

is just checking for voltage and wont tell you much in the way of how much draw is on the system.

(i think you checked voltage not amps)

 

Your right, I did it wrong.. Thanks for bring that up, I'll check it again tomorrow..
So i need to pull the negative side of the battery and check between battery - and negative wire?

 

i usually do it on the + side, but either should work, just make sure your amp meter will support quite a bit of current as all the electronics will pull alot when the battery is first reconnected.

 

shrpshtr325 I did the test and it was showing a (.2 - .3 ) draw on the battery so that's normal.

Thanks for help!

 

If that is 200 to 300 milliamps, that is way too much!
Should be less than 50 milliamps .05 amps.