GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only
Makes 🢒 GMC_Truck 🢒 2009 🢒 Sierra Denali 🢒 Diagnostic Navigation 🢒 Vehicle Diagnostic Information 🢒 Battery Electrical Drain/Parasitic Load Test

12-Volt Battery

The following procedure is for the 12-volt battery only.

Diagnostic Aids
    • Be sure to rule out any possible obvious influences, such as customer error or aftermarket equipment. Anytime aftermarket accessories are installed into the courtesy lamp circuit, it can cause the inadvertent power timer in the body control module (BCM) to keep resetting. This would cause the BCM to remain awake and cause a current drain on the battery.
    • Some customer driving habits, such as regular short trips, do not allow enough time to properly charge the 12V battery. Refer to Battery Description and Operation.
    • Verify that the 12V battery and charging system are in proper working order. Refer to Battery Charging and Charging System Test.
    • A battery discharging for no apparent reason while the vehicle is parked can be caused by an intermittent draw, such as a module waking up, or a continuous draw, such as a dome light or stuck relay.
    • Some systems and modules such as OnStar®, and regulated voltage control (RVC), are designed to wake-up, perform a task, and go back asleep at regular intervals. Refer to Body Control System Description and Operation for the system or modules description and operation.
    • Remote keyless entry (RKE) will wake up due to an outside input. Refer to Keyless Entry System Description and Operation for the system description and operation.

       Note: The battery specification listed below is a generic specification. Refer to Battery Usage when testing the battery.

    • The battery run down time will vary depending on cold cranking amperage (CCA) and reserve capacity (RC). If the CCA and RC are higher, then the battery run down time would be longer. If the CCA and RC are lower, then the battery run down time would be shorter. The graph below indicates roughly how many days a 690 CCA battery with at 110 min. RC (60.5 AH) starting at 80 percent state of charge will last with a constant current draw until it reaches 50 percent state of charge. Differences in battery rating and temperature will affect the results.

Current Drain

Days

25 mA

30.5

50 mA

16.5

75 mA

11

100 mA

8.25

250 mA

3.3

500 mA

1.65

750 mA

1

1 A

0.8

2 A

0.4

Reference Information

Special Tools

J 38758 Parasitic Draw Test Switch

Load Test

Warning: Refer to Battery Disconnect Warning in the Preface section.

Caution: Do not turn the parasitic draw test switch to the OFF position with the engine running. Damage will occur to the vehicle's electrical system.

Caution: The test switch must be in the ON position when removing the fuses in order to maintain continuity in the electrical system. This avoids damaging the digital multimeter due to accidental overloading, such as a door being opened to change a fuse.

Note: The switch knob on the J 38758 is marked ON and OFF. When the switch knob is in the ON position, the circuit is closed and electrical current will pass through the switch. When the switch knob is in the OFF position, the circuit is open and electrical current will not pass through the switch.

  1. Disconnect the battery negative cable from the 12V battery negative terminal. Refer to Battery Negative Cable Disconnection and Connection.
  2. Install the female end of the J 38758 to the 12V battery ground terminal.
  3. Turn the J 38758 knob to the OFF position.
  4. Install the battery negative cable to the male end of the J 38758 .
  5. Turn the J 38758 knob to the ON position.
  6. Start the engine and activate ALL of the accessories, including the radio and air conditioning.
  7. Turn the ignition switch to the OFF position and remove the ignition switch key.
  8. Disconnect the scan tool from the vehicle, if one is installed.
  9. Open and close the driver door, and wait 2 minutes.
  10. Connect a 10A fused jumper wire to the test switch tool terminals.
  11. Turn the J 38758 knob to the OFF position. The current now flows through the jumper wire.
  12. Wait 1 minute. If the fuse opens, install an inductive ammeter and go to step 22.
  13. Turn the J 38758 knob to the ON position.
  14. Remove the fused jumper wire.
  15. Set a digital multimeter to the 10A scale.
  16. Connect the digital multimeter to the test switch tool terminals.
  17. Turn the J 38758 knob to the OFF position. The current flows now through the digital multimeter.
  18. Wait 10 minutes. Check and record the current reading.
    19. 18.1. When there is a current reading of 2A or less, turn the J 38758 knob to the ON position. The electrical current will now pass through the switch.
    18.2. Then switch the digital multimeter down to the 2A scale for a more accurate reading when the J 38758 knob is turned OFF.
  19. Turn the J 38758 knob to the OFF position.
  20. Using the MIN/MAX function of the digital multimeter, monitor the average current drain for 5 minutes. The average current drain should not exceed 35 mA.
  21. If excessive current drain is not found at this time and there are no other apparent causes, monitor the parasitic drain overnight or during the day using the MIN/MAX function of the digital multimeter. This will determine if something has been activated during that time frame.

    22. Caution: The test switch must be in the ON position when removing the fuses in order to maintain continuity in the electrical system. This avoids damaging the digital multimeter due to accidental overloading, such as a door being opened to change a fuse.

    Note: Removing fuses, relays, and connectors to determine the failure area may wake up modules. You must wait for these modules to go to sleep or use the sleep function on the scan tool.

  22. When the vehicle has an unacceptable amount of parasitic current drain, remove each fuse one at a time until the current drain falls to an acceptable level. This will indicate which circuit is causing the drain. Refer to Power Distribution Schematics to diagnose exactly which part of the suspect circuit is causing the parasitic drain. In some cases a non-fused circuit or component, such as a relay, is the cause of excessive parasitic current drain.
  23. Repeat the parasitic current drain test procedure after any repair has been completed to make sure that the parasitic current drain is at an acceptable level.
  24. When the cause of the excessive current drain has been located and repaired, remove the J 38758 .
  25. Connect the battery negative cable to the 12V battery negative terminal.