Jeep Cherokee (1993 - 2001) - 98 2.5 Untraceable battery drain

Honest John Back Room » Technical matters
What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks
View Threaded
Tue 19 May 2009 16:37
98 2.5 Untraceable battery drain - jeepskint
Owned our Jeep for 5 years and had no problems at all then in the last 5 months we've replaced the radiator, then coupling on fan sheared and went through radiator so all replaced! Crank sensor then failed in Feb and then battery died! Replaced battery and something keeps draining it flat, garage has run tests and in fairness aren't charging us due to recent outlay - all to them. Yesterday mentioned a possibility of the alternator but we're at the end of our financial limit and thinking of ebaying it for parts!! Any comments greatly appreciated.

slt

Edited by Pugugly on 19/05/2009 at 18:46

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Wed 20 May 2009 00:16
98 2.5 Untraceable battery drain - Peter.N.
Is it charging properly? its very easy to find out, just connect a voltmeter across the battery with the engine running and it should read near enough 14 volts, much less and the alternator will be the problem. To check for any drain on the battery when parked, connect an ammeter in series with one of the battery leads with everything turned off, it shouldn't read more than a few milliamps, anything over 100 and you have a problem.

Edited by Peter.N. on 20/05/2009 at 00:16

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Wed 20 May 2009 00:20
98 2.5 Untraceable battery drain - DP
After Peter N's suggestion, if you find a drain, pull each fuse in turn and see if the reading drops. This will identify the offending circuit.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Wed 20 May 2009 01:22
98 2.5 Untraceable battery drain - MerlinTec
Hi
Most common problem will be the battery in the alarm unit if you have a high drain.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link