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Tracing a short '99 Sebring Convertible

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  #1  
Old 01-03-2012, 07:45 PM
aifam55's Avatar
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Default Tracing a short '99 Sebring Convertible

I thought I have checked every place there could be for a short that killed a new battery. I have continuity from the positive post to ground so someplace there exists a short. I took out the battery, and removed the two cables from the main positive post. I disconnected 2 pairs of harness connectors on each side of the power distribution center, disconnected the TCM & PCM. Unplugged the harness from the multifunction switch, unplugged all the harnesses from the BCM. Pulled out every fuse and relay on the power distribution center.
Someplace there is still a short since I still have continuity from the positive post to ground. I have the wiring diagram. I'd like to at least get in the general area where the short is. Any help is appreciated.
The pic shows an ohm meter that indicates continuity from the positive post to ground (a short)
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Last edited by aifam55; 01-03-2012 at 09:14 PM.
  #2  
Old 01-03-2012, 09:17 PM
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that is not how u check for a battery off draw a short will pop a fuse or a fuse link it will not drain a battery.

U need to be right at the battery not the jump post. Plus you need an amp meter that will go down to 35mili amps at least for this kinda test.
 
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Old 01-03-2012, 10:02 PM
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I had a 2 year old battery in there and just replaced it with a new one. Both batteries were destroyed internally and could not take a charge, even with the old manual battery charger. I'm thinking it's something more than a draw on the battery when it's sitting. When I replaced the battery, the car started fine with no warning lights.
With disconnecting all the things I mentioned above, I assume there should be no continuity from the positive post to ground. I could try another battery and check for a draw but I think something is frying the battery. I'm suspecting something might be wrong with the power distribution center itself.
 
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Old 01-04-2012, 12:24 AM
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u will have continuity because u still have the battery itself hooked up
 
  #5  
Old 01-04-2012, 12:31 AM
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The battery is out of the car.

Update: I installed a good battery and the resting volts dropped from about 12.7 to 12.1 in about an hour. Then recharged it out of the car and proceeded to check for a parasitic draw. It had a 1.2 amp draw but it dropped to nothing after a while. I left the battery in the car overnight and this morning the resting voltage is at 12.6 to 12.7 volts (fully charged). About a year ago I had a slight short in the multifunction switch that drained the old battery, so I suspected a short. Whatever happened this recent time destroyed 2 good batteries completely. One reason I suspected it was a slight short versus a parasitic draw was because both batteries were destroyed and could not be charged up on any battery charger including the manual charger. Something internal in the batteries was destroyed.
 

Last edited by aifam55; 01-05-2012 at 09:44 AM.
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