Parasitic Draw Testing and Battery Drain Diagnosis
A battery that keeps going flat overnight is almost never a bad battery. Something in the vehicle is staying awake and pulling current after everything should be asleep. Finding that something is a methodical electrical hunt, and it is exactly the kind of work most shops would rather not take on.
We isolate the circuit that is draining your battery, identify the module or component responsible, and tell you what it will take to fix it. No more jump packs in the glovebox and no more parts thrown at a guess.
What this covers
- Battery goes dead overnight or over a few days
- Repeated no start after the vehicle sits
- New battery that keeps dying
- Draws caused by a module that will not sleep
- Aftermarket accessory and wiring related drains
Signs you might need this
- You jump the car more than you would like to admit
- A new battery did not fix it
- The car starts fine when driven daily but dies after sitting
- A shop told you the battery and alternator test fine
How we approach it
- 1
Confirm the drain
We measure the actual current the vehicle is pulling once the modules go to sleep and compare it to what is normal for that vehicle.
- 2
Isolate the circuit
Working circuit by circuit, we narrow the draw down to the exact system and component keeping your battery awake.
- 3
Fix the cause
Once the offending circuit is identified, you get a clear explanation and a quote to correct it.
Is it not just a bad battery?
Usually not. If a battery keeps dying after being replaced, something is draining it. A parasitic draw test finds what.
How long does it take to find a draw?
It depends on the fault. Some draws are found quickly, others require letting the vehicle sit and watching how the circuits behave. We work methodically so the answer is right, not just fast.
Can an intermittent draw be found?
Yes, though it takes patience. Intermittent draws are our kind of problem. We have the equipment to capture them.
Often needed alongside this
Have a problem no one else can solve?
Tell us what your vehicle is doing and we will tell you how we can help. Call, or start a chat and we will get right back to you.