GetOuttaMyWay

Hi- We've got a 2001 F-250 Super Duty that was formerly a service vehicle and was donated to our organization. It's been draining the battery if we leave it parked for a few days. I suspect there was some equipment on the vehicle that was added in its previous life as a service truck for a utility company, and maybe that equipment wasn't removed too cleanly. I'm planning on getting out my multimeter and testing the draw with the vehicle off at each fuse to see which circuit is draining power and try to trace down the problem.

Does anyone know how much the vehicle should be draining when it is off? It has the stock AM/FM radio in it with a clock, other than that I don't see anything else that should be draining. I think it was reading about 650ma when I checked last.

thefonz

Have you charged and load tested the battery to be sure it is good?
Test the alternator

GetOuttaMyWay

This is the second battery its killed in like 6 months, so I think there is a problem somewhere. Good call on the Alt.. I'll check that its spitting out some juice with the engine running.

GetOuttaMyWay

I think I fixed it.. the PO had wired in a switch for a "winch" into fuse #28, which is supposed to be for the trailer brake controller. It was drawing 5amps when left in the on position, and the switch doesn't light up or do anything so I think between our 3 staff that share the truck it was getting messed with.