Battery Current Draw When Off

Congratulations on getting your "New Cord" and solving your first Cord Problem!!!
We hope to see you and your Cord at an ACD meet this year.

Wanted to throw in my 2 cents. I just picked up an 810 Phaeton a few weeks ago. The battery was completely dead the other day and I put in my spare. Well, it did the same thing too. I removed the battery and checked the terminals for continuity with a volt meter and I assumed I had a short. Turns out that the factory radio was turned on, but doesn't make any sound and turning it off solved the mystery battery drain. Would've spent a lot of time chasing a short were it not for the hint on the display drawing power above. Thanks!

Hi 1748 S
Good to see Gary!!

Good find. You may be able to open the switch and clean it up too. Or maybe you can make an adjustment where it mounts on the back of the dash. I have opened up my head light switch and cleaned it then applied some grease.



Gary Parsons

Ok. So I found the current draw. It is from the dimmable "Instrument" light switch. I had assumed that when the lever was all the way down it was "off". In this position the dash lights are dim enough that they look off. I've learned this is incorrect. In fact, all the way down (dimmest) draws 1.2 amps. I've also learned that putting the lever all the way up should be "off". However, with my switch, all the way up is actually full bright (1.7 amps). But, there is a spot a bit below "all the way" up where the lights switch off completely - that's the sweet spot when you park. Interestingly, I can only approach this "off" position by moving the lever from low to high - as the dash lights get brighter you can find the "off" position. I cannot find the same position when starting with the lever all the way up and moving it down. I suspect there is a wiper in there that's a bit loose or worn. At least I now know how to turn off the instrument dash lights and keep the battery from draining!

Like Cliff said the only thing that should be drawing power with the ignition off is the clock which is no where near 1 amp. Make sure your control levers are all the way up. They often jiggle down when driving and either the instrument lights or parking lights come on and you don't notice it.
CORDially,
Jim

The only thing that will draw any current is the clock which is very, very little . The clock has a fuse that you can pull. You can then go to the head light switch and pull that fuse. if neither one of those is your problem, I would then go to your ignition switch which has 3 terminals. You can disconnect the wires from the terminals one at a time and see if you can locate the short. Good luck

Well, I would start with switches, then go to light connectors. when you find the problem and correct it ditch the cutoff switch.

I agree Curt. Just hoping someone can point me to likely suspects. I'll probably start disconnecting components this coming weekend to find the culprit.

-Michael

In my opinion, there should be zero current draw.

Hello ACDers!

I'm curious if anyone on the forum knows what the typical battery current draw is when the car is completely off? With my Cord off, I measure about a 1.1 amp current draw. There is a manual battery disconnect in place which solves the problem of the battery draining after a few days of sitting, but just wondering what would be drawing ~1 amp when the car is off? I know that's only 6 watts, so nothing is getting hot or anything like that, but figured I'd ask if there were any places I should check first (or if this is normal) before I go and try to figure it out.

And the car is running well with the new water pump belt. First drive for me was yesterday!

-Michael