Parasitic Drain-Help

[Nopike]

Congratulations, I figured you were close. it looks like your alarm is now working and the car is going into sleep mode. Some of the posters in this thread did say that 100 milliamps should not be enough to drain your battery, they may be right, only time will tell. I think that your drain problem will probably be solved. Post in a few days or a week or two when you are sure the drain problem is solved.

[matty]

Well you have to remember, this has been a problem over the past 5 years or so with I would say about 7 or so replacement battery's and recharging and jumping them maybe a hundred times. I have alot of research on these Optima's and once you drain them once, they never really rebound to full potential. Do that a few times and its shot. Thats why recently, the charge would only last about 12 hours on this battery.

-matt

[maximariceboi]

oh wow....sweet! congrats on your findings.

[Nopike]

If the problem is solved this will probably help some of the others with the same problem, especially if they know how to use a multimeter.

[Nopike]

Originally Posted by matty

Well you have to remember, this has been a problem over the past 5 years or so with I would say about 7 or so replacement battery's and recharging and jumping them maybe a hundred times. I have alot of research on these Optima's and once you drain them once, they never really rebound to full potential. Do that a few times and its shot. Thats why recently, the charge would only last about 12 hours on this battery.

-matt

Your sure are dedicated to your Maxima I would have thought about getting rid of the car after a dozen or so jumps, that does not sound like fun. Hopefully you will be enjoying you reliable Maxima from here on.

[JSMax]

I think it's awesome that a forum like this one can get together with members from all over north america and help out a person with his cars electrical problem.
Glad you were pointed in the right direction and was able to fix it. Imagine if you were on your own with this. Do you think you ever would have found it?

I didn't think that I would that's why I finally gave in and took mine into the dealership and had them find it for me.

Oh and 80-100 milliamps draw is acceptable for new cars with 7+ computers. For a car that is 10+ years old... that's enough to drain the battery over a few days.
Just so you know.

[choray911]

I've had a revilation this weekend too. I left town for the weekend, and for the first time ever I armed the aftermarket alarm in my carport. Behold, this morning When I went to crank it up, she started. Do you guys have after market alarms, or are you running the factory alarm? I still need to hunt down the root of the problem.

[matty]

Originally Posted by JSMax

Oh and 80-100 milliamps draw is acceptable for new cars with 7+ computers. For a car that is 10+ years old... that's enough to drain the battery over a few days.
Just so you know.

I have to agree thats a good amount of draw, especially when I kept going through batteries about once a year, from recharging and draining, recharging and draining.

Originally Posted by choray911

I've had a revilation this weekend too. I left town for the weekend, and for the first time ever I armed the aftermarket alarm in my carport. Behold, this morning When I went to crank it up, she started. Do you guys have after market alarms, or are you running the factory alarm? I still need to hunt down the root of the problem.

Do the parasitic drain test and see what number your at after the car goes into sleep (pushing down the hood button, all doors locked, trunk closed)

After you get that number youll have a better idea where your at.

[JSMax]

I have an aftermarket alarm system that like most it is tied into the factory system. I personally have not used my factory keyfob in more than 4 years. I have had this drain for about 6 months before I took it in. Like I sated in my eariler posting... the clowns at the body shop were to blame for my troubles.

[matty]

Just to make this clear, this switch has NOTHING to do with the trunk being open. This is clearly there if the key cylinder gets popped out of the trunk during a burglary. If this plug is Unplugged, it acts like its not there and will NOT allow the secuirty system to arm, unlike previously stated in other posts. With this unplugged, missing or faulty, your parasitic drain will be about 100 milliamps.

-matt

[JY05]

probably the alternator.. had that problem with my maxima

[The Wizard]

Originally Posted by JY05

probably the alternator.. had that problem with my maxima

Nice one n00b. The problem has already been solved.

[matty]

Originally Posted by JY05

probably the alternator.. had that problem with my maxima

Read the thread dude

[choray911]

Originally Posted by JY05

probably the alternator.. had that problem with my maxima

Bless his heart, he just wants to fit in.


































Turd Nugget.

[matty]

UPDATE:

Its been two weeks and I use my car about every other day, sometimes it sits for two days, and starts up right away, same strong start, every single time I turn the key. Still drawing 10 milliamps after going into sleep mode and the security system arms correctly every time.

Thanks for all your help guys. The cars a differnet car now, now that I count on it starting.

-matt

[SpeedCrazie]

Any chance for a write up or is this a pretty simple swap? Also do you have a part number or name for the piece you replaced?

Thanks.

[matty]

Originally Posted by SpeedCrazie

Any chance for a write up or is this a pretty simple swap? Also do you have a part number or name for the piece you replaced?

Thanks.

It pretty much a simple swap. With it already in there, just take it off and replace if you test it and its bad(security system not arming). This is not a part you can jusy unplug and your car will think its there. WRONG !!

The Part number is:
84665-40U00 SWITCH ASSY-TRUNK $63.38 list....paid $47.87

Alot of body shops overlook this part and wont replace it if it gets banged up.

-matt

[Nopike]

Originally Posted by matty

It pretty much a simple swap. With it already in there, just take it off and replace if you test it and its bad(security system not arming). This is not a part you can jusy unplug and your car will think its there. WRONG !!

-matt

Originally Posted by Nopike

Even with the wiring for the trunk lock cylinder switch disconnected my Maxima went into sleep mode (to approx 12 ma) after 30 seconds. This is as I expected. It does not hurt to install the switches. The whole problem is kind of wierd. Maybe the poster who said 100ma should be acceptable is right. It just seems like a bad design that a security switch malfunctioning would drain the battery. I guess you should still pursue trying to get the Maxima into sleep mode. I am learning a litte about the system from the FSM but it takes time. I also now have a flashing airbag light to deal with.

Glad your car is still working.

[max80228]

HI I was looking at this truck sensor for the lock on my car. As I too have a 100ma draw. How would I tell if mine was bad? Can I test the resisance? If so which wires and what should it read? I really need to find what my draw is.... As I have spent countless hours searching. Thanks

[matty]

Try arming your stock security system and see what the light on the dash does ? If you arm the system and the red light stays solid then in about a min it blinkes about 3 seconds between each blink, then its armed. If its CONSTANTLY blinking every second, even after the car is locked, then theres a fault in the system.

[max80228]

OK I finally was able to take my car back to Nissan. I have the same issue with the battery being completely drained after 24 hours of the car being started. I have traced, and traced with no avail. I was told last May that it was my alternator so Tynans Nissan in Aurora replaced it for $700- So i took it back for them to look at the problem and was told that I needed to start by replacing the cables from the battery cost of $450, they suggested replacing the starter because thry dont think its a Nissan starter another $500. I have owned the car since 2001 when it had 55,000 miles so I bet its still the original starter. Anyways I need to know if I should try to find some cables in a junk yard? Or start looking somewhere else? If so where? I have had the multimeter on and it draws 100ma all the time. Pulled fuses, relays, have been through about 7 batteries in the past 2+ years since this has been an issue. Thanks in advance for everyones help I appreciate the dedication to this site and helping fellow maxima owners.

[Nopike]

Originally Posted by max80228

OK I finally was able to take my car back to Nissan. I have the same issue with the battery being completely drained after 24 hours of the car being started. I have traced, and traced with no avail. I was told last May that it was my alternator so Tynans Nissan in Aurora replaced it for $700- So i took it back for them to look at the problem and was told that I needed to start by replacing the cables from the battery cost of $450, they suggested replacing the starter because thry dont think its a Nissan starter another $500. I have owned the car since 2001 when it had 55,000 miles so I bet its still the original starter. Anyways I need to know if I should try to find some cables in a junk yard? Or start looking somewhere else? If so where? I have had the multimeter on and it draws 100ma all the time. Pulled fuses, relays, have been through about 7 batteries in the past 2+ years since this has been an issue. Thanks in advance for everyones help I appreciate the dedication to this site and helping fellow maxima owners.

Thay all sounds like BS, looks like you have the 100ma draw just like Matty, this is probably because your allarm sysetm is not being armed. Faulty trunk, hood or door switch would do that. Busy now will try to help later.

[Nopike]

Originally Posted by max80228

OK I finally was able to take my car back to Nissan. I have the same issue with the battery being completely drained after 24 hours of the car being started. I have traced, and traced with no avail. I was told last May that it was my alternator so Tynans Nissan in Aurora replaced it for $700- So i took it back for them to look at the problem and was told that I needed to start by replacing the cables from the battery cost of $450, they suggested replacing the starter because thry dont think its a Nissan starter another $500. I have owned the car since 2001 when it had 55,000 miles so I bet its still the original starter. Anyways I need to know if I should try to find some cables in a junk yard? Or start looking somewhere else? If so where? I have had the multimeter on and it draws 100ma all the time. Pulled fuses, relays, have been through about 7 batteries in the past 2+ years since this has been an issue. Thanks in advance for everyones help I appreciate the dedication to this site and helping fellow maxima owners.

That all sounds like BS, looks like you have the 100ma draw just like Matty, this is probably because your alarm system is not being armed. Faulty trunk, hood or door switch would do that. Busy now will try to help later. Sometimes the dealers mechanics don't know s***.

[max80228]

Is there a way to test the resistence of the switches? What should they read? I am also tending to believe that it has something to do with the alarm system. It is the stock alarm, nothing else in the car is aftermarket..ie radio, ect.

[Nopike]

Originally Posted by max80228

Is there a way to test the resistence of the switches? What should they read? I am also tending to believe that it has something to do with the alarm system. It is the stock alarm, nothing else in the car is aftermarket..ie radio, ect.

First you need to check if your alarm is arming itself and working. If not than that's almost certainly causing your problem. That information is contained within these posts. All the things that have to occur for the alarm to arm itself are also listed in one of the posts. A switch is either closed (zero resistance) or open (infinite)resistance. You can google that basic information to learn to operate a meter. Most of the information you need to resolve your problem is contained in these threads. I will try and help but I can't start teaching basic electronics.

[max80228]

Perfect thanks I will report back when I have time to troubleshoot probably this weekend.