| From | Message |
Bob Lincoln
Dodge Dakota
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6/08/2004
13:53:43
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 Subject: Current draw on battery
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Message:
FSM says 5 to 20 mA, but I measure 105 mA, and it's all from the tachometer drive board. I took it out and checked it, and it appears fine, mapped out its schematic and it seems to be designed to draw that much current. Could someone please measure their current draw and let me know what they get?
This is a 92 Dakota V-6. My brother, original owner, says it did this from new. Battery goes to 11.2 volts in 2 weeks. It's not the battery, it's the current draw.
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?
Dodge Dakota
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6/08/2004
15:51:15
| RE: Current draw on battery
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Message:
YOU of all people should KNOW BETTER...
GET a NEW battery and NOT some elcheapo either.
THINK about it - even 105 mils
compared to 550 CRANKING AMPS...
or 50 AMPS standby power for 60 minutes
which a GOOD battery HAS { which will usually get
you home without the alternator charging )
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Bob Lincoln
Dodge Dakota
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6/08/2004
19:40:39
| RE: Current draw on battery
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Message:
Don't be an dope, if you don't want to help, don't post. It's not the battery. It has had numerous top brand name batteries in it, currently has a new Champion 1000 CCA battery.
It measures 105 mA from fuse #6, which is the horn and tach. I removed the tach board and powered it separately, and confirmed that it is the entire current draw. It is NOT normal for most cars. Usually current draw is 15-40 mA.
Put a 105 mA load on ANY battery, it WILL drop down to 11.5 volts or less in a two week period. I didn't say it wouldn't start, it cranks vigorously even at that. But it has and will go dead if left unattended. Option now is to pull the fuse between uses.
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Mark green 92
Dodge Dakota
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6/08/2004
21:36:59
| RE: Current draw on battery
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Message:
You’re in luck, I own a 92 also. I went out and checked mine and I am getting about 100mA. I don't know if this will cause my battery to go dead in 2 weeks, I can't be without the truck that long. Why not wire a switch in series with the fuse so that you do not end up wearing the fuse terminals, or maybe consider a battery tender like the classic car enthusiasts use? Just some thoughts.
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Bob Lincoln
Dodge Dakota
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6/08/2004
22:20:11
| RE: Current draw on battery
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Message:
Thanks. I knew I wasn't the only one. I had two experienced analog engineers examine the circuit besides myself. It IS designed to draw that much current.
If I do make such an arrangement, it will be a small relay wired to the ignition to switch the fused battery power on, so I won't have to remember to babysit it.
The battery won't go dead in 2 weeks, it just gets pulled down a lot. Not good in winter. With the fuse pulled, after 10 days the battery is still at 12.55 volts.
If you pull your tachometer board out, you'll find that a diode next to a film capacitor has overheated enough to deposit a smoke pattern on the capacitor. Yet the diode is not shorted or apparently damaged. It's the crappiest circuit any of us have ever seen.
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J and J Auto
GenII
 
6/09/2004
10:10:44
| RE: Current draw on battery
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Message:
They all have around a 100 mA draw,
computer standby, backup power (hold memery)
radio clock
tack drive
Anywhere between 100 to 120 is normal
I live where it goes to 30 below and let my truck
sit for weeks at a time and never fails to start
Yes any new comp controlled venicle if let sit for
more than 30 days most will drain very low
Larry
J&J Auto
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Bob Lincoln
Dodge Dakota
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6/09/2004
12:59:24
| RE: Current draw on battery
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Message:
"They all have around a 100 mA draw"
Apparently so. That doesn't make it a good thing. All Pintos had the potential for exploding gas tanks, but that was unacceptable.
"Anywhere between 100 to 120 is normal"
Not according to the FSM - it says 5 to 20 mA is normal, and if more than 20 is detected, to look for a problem. I suspect that this is a stock phrase that applies to the cars in general. Dakotas without tachs will not have this problem, as they will not have that circuit board.
"Yes any new comp controlled venicle if let sit for
more than 30 days most will drain very low"
Yes, but it should not pull it down from 12.65V to 12.0V overnight, and 11.5V by 10 days, 11.2V by two weeks. 100 mA is too much.
Computer and radio standby, and clock should only be a few mA each.
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JettaB
Dodge Dakota
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6/23/2023
16:15:58
| RE: Current draw on battery
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Message:
We have a 1989 Dodge Dakota and cannot figure out
what is making the battery die. We have pulled the
radio fuse which by the way, radio never worked. If
it sits overnight, we are not able to start it the
next day. Any ideas would be appreciated.
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Old
Dodge Dakota
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6/29/2023
14:34:32
| RE: Current draw on battery
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Message:
After you park it t night, remove the
negative cable, reattach in the morning.
See if it is the battery.
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