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Parasitic Draw Questions

453 Views 8 Replies 3 Participants Last post by  Moose 04.5
So I've had a parastic draw on the truck for about 1.5 years now. My truck never sat long so it was never really a big deal until now. I'm not sure if it's worse or it's just because it's sitting longer now. I have a 1.3-1.5 amp draw. When I disconnect fuse 51 it goes away to below 50 miliamps which is what is supposed to be at from what I've read. I've narrowed it down, I THINK, to the cluster. The reason being I take the three plugs out for the cluster and the amp draw drops from that 1.3-1.5 amps to the less than 50 miliamps. I plugged it back in, amp draw went back up. Unplugged radio, didn't change. Yeats ago I sent the cluster to circuit board medics, several times it had a couple issues with it not being calibrated right, and I put in led bulbs in it. Some of them never really worked or would work if you hit a bump and shook them. But with the fuse 51 pulled the cluster and overhead still work including the backlighting on the cluster (I think), but the radio would not work at all and neither would my Smarty touch in my OBD2 port. So, is it actually the cluster or could it be somewhere else? I'm having issues with the remote not working either, but that could be an issue with door wiring or the aftermarket remote start I'm not sure. The E brake light is also staying on and the brake lights are all staying on all the time too including the 3rd brake light. Which I've read could be the master cylinder or the reservoir switch, tried 3 nothing changed. Did the 4th gen hydroboost with 4th gen master, didn't have issue before it so I think it just may be a bad resivour??
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Amp and an half seems like a LOT to me for something like the cluster, with no "visible" symptoms. WATTS= IE (current in A x V) that's nearly 20 watts!! That's enough to warm things up!!!

EG just for fun I looked up a 1004 dome lamp, they get hot as hell and are less than that.
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Things I'd keep in the back of my mind:

ANYTHING aftermarket added especially entertainment, amplifier etc
Lights, glove box is small for that draw, but any lighting, camper?
third brake light?
Keep alternator in the back of your head. See if it is warm.
Check the lighter and accessory outlet

You are probably aware that some things automatically shut down after a delay so don't let that lead you down the wrong track
I am not capable of itemizing all fuses, but be flexible and keep in mind, some problems don't go "through" the fuse panel. Over the years, I've found several alternators with either a VR problem or leaky diodes. You might just randomly try disconnecting it for a test
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