2000 Cavalier parasitic battery draw

[bluestream]

I picked up a low milage Cavalier for my daughter to use. I have been doing some work on it and noticed the battery going dead. The battery is new, so the PO must have been having the same issue. I have been able to isolate the draw to the Interior dome light circuit. I have removed that fuse and the draw is gone. That circuit has the dome light, radio, and door chime on it, as well as some others I may not know about.

These three items all seem to work fine, so I am wondering how I can further isolate the draw, and also wondered if anyone knows if there would be any other loads on that circuit?

TKS

 

[The_Jeff]

I have heard things about the delco radios themselves leaking current.

Two fuses lead to said radio, BTW.

 

[bluestream]

I wondered about that?? a good place to start...Thanks!!

 

[yonyon]

Definitely try unplugging the radio. They're notorious vampires.

 

[Charlie1935]

Does it have a glove box light?

 

[caravanmike]

could be the bcm, if it has one, but i would unplug the radio first.
try getting a wiring diagram (mitchell on demand?) to see if you are missing anything

 

[bluestream]

Originally Posted By: Charlie1935
Does it have a glove box light?


Nope and truck light works fine

 

[bluestream]

Originally Posted By: caravanmike
could be the bcm, if it has one, but i would unplug the radio first.
try getting a wiring diagram (mitchell on demand?) to see if you are missing anything


Body Control Module? What does that do? I think it has one...

 

[KevGuy]

You need Eric The Car Guy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KF1gijj03_0&sns=em

 

[bluestream]

Originally Posted By: KevGuy
You need Eric The Car Guy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KF1gijj03_0&sns=em


Not really...I have already diagnosed the draw to the dome light circuit.

Eric the car guy is a tech with some very simple skills.

Here would be a better way of diagnosing a draw:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-wxG6U5TuY

 

[bluestream]

I have narrowed the draw down to my radio. So when unhooked there is no draw. I picked up a radio at the local wreckers and when installed I have the same draw again. The radio works fine. I am sure this car has no sub woofer as its a bare bones model.

I'm totally stumped on this I dont think both radios could be bad...

 

[yonyon]

Why can't both radios be bad?

I don't recall ever seeing a Cav with a power antenna but I've seen quite a few with broken radios.

 

[dishdude]

The issues I have seen with Delco radios of this vintage is that they keep trying to eject a CD that isn't there, draining the battery.