My van has been eating batteries lately. Its my band van so I don't drive it a lot - about once a week to and from shows in town.

The last 3 or 4 shows we've had I've either had to have it jumped to get to the show or have it jumped after the show.When I get it jumped and then leave it running for a while it'll start up by itself but then when I leave it sitting for even a day the battery will go dead again.

I've taken the van to the local Schucks and Autozone and had them hook up their tester to the battery to check the alternator and battery and the tests always come back ok. However, on more than one occasion I've taken the battery out and had them test it in the store and they tell me its bad so I don't really trust their tests.

I also purchased a little handheld battery/alternator tester but I'm not sure I trust its results either as they always seem to show something different.

So my questions are: Does this sound like a bad alternator or a short circuit somewhere? Are there any test I can do to find out which one is the problem? If it is a short what would be the best way to go about finding it?

Thanks!

 

Well I just went to the auto supply store and picked up a little circuit tester light. I unhooked the negative battery cable and ran the light betwee the battery and the cable. The light came on. I read that this meant that something was drawing power from the battery. So I went through all the fuses and found that if I removed the #7 fuse that the light went off. Everything seems to work without the #7 fuse except for the glove compartment light. So hopefully that's all it was.

Anybody know what the #7 fuses does? So far the only thing I can seeit affecting is the glove compartment light.

 

I just discovered that the brake lights don't work with the #7 fuse removed. I've checked everything else (reverse lights, hazards, turn signals, headlights, tail lights, interior lights, cigarette lighter, radio, heater/ac, windshield wipers and power windows). So the only things affected are the brake lights and the glove compartment light. Weird.

Any ideas on why the brake lights or glove compartment light would be drawing power from the battery?

Thanks![/align]

 

Have you unplugged the glove compartment switch and put the fuse back in? If so, was there still a draw? If not, then the glove compartment switch is bad. If the problem of power draw still lingers, then you will need to spend some time tracking down the problem with the brake lights. Usually, it's a bad ground or worn wire problem.

Also, in the dark, does the glove compartment bulb stay lit when the door is closed???

 

Yeah, I've tried disconnecting the glove box light and still have the draw problem.I've also checked the glove box light in the dark and it looks like it goes out when the glove box closes.

 

If you unplug fuse 7 and use a testlite or voltmeteracross the fuse terminals, what does it show? Your brake lites aren't burning, constantly, are they? I guess you might try unplugging the brake-lite switch, see if the problem goes away. I don't have a good wiring diagram for your vehicle.