81 300 TD. I suspect a battery drain and was hoping to get a clarification on exactly how to test this. I have searched and come up with methods that aren't very detailed. Which battery cable(s) get pulled, where to put multi-meter leads and what ranges I should be looking/looking out for.

Thank you.

I was thinking there are quite a few approaches to this problem. If you find your battery going flat for example. Pull the terminal everytime you park the car. This should give you some time to work on the car rather than right away. Also it verifies that you really do have a leak rather than a battery that will not hold it's charge. You will find out quickly this way. If the problem stops then troubleshoot for the leak. I would probably try to go systematically.. Pull the clock fuse. Remove one battery terminal clamp. Measure for voltage between the pulled terminal clamp and the post. Should be zero. If not start pulling one fuse at a time and checking for zero with each fuse you pull. Put the fuse in and go to the next one until you have found the circuit causing the problem.I
If you have an aftermarket radio it has been the source in the last couple of ones I have done. Another good suspect is the alternator. Just disconnect the harness to see if the leak is gone. Not too hard. Leave the alternator until you have exhausted the other possibilities.
If you do not own a meter it is cruder and may not work but should. Take a tailight bulb or any 12 volt small bulb. Solder wires on if you have to . Wire it between the terminal and the cable clamp. It should glow unless the leak is very small. Watch it for indications the same basically as you would watch a meter. The glow will cease when the leak is gone. Any additional questions just put them up on site as many can make suggestions and help. Chasing a few of these down is good experience to have.

i use amps on my meter. pull hot cable place leads between cable and batt. shold be low- .1-.25 amps or so. remember that the clock and radio's will always draw some. if it's high, move to fuse panel. pull fuses and use leads between fuse terminals, in place of fuses. this will narrow it down to which circuit its on. go thru that circuit, device by device until you find it. mine was the hirschman antennae. it was pulling 9.0+ amps.
ive got some pics.....

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1984 123.193 372,xxx miles, room for Seven.

1999 Dodge Durango Cummins 4BTAA 47RE 5k lb 4x4 getting 25+mpgs, room for Seven.

here we go..


the leads on the no. 7? circuit.
the reading on the no 7? fuse, where my drain was.
fuse panel with all th always powered fuses pulled.
the leads on the battery
heres the reading on the battery

__________________
1984 123.193 372,xxx miles, room for Seven.

1999 Dodge Durango Cummins 4BTAA 47RE 5k lb 4x4 getting 25+mpgs, room for Seven.

That's what I'm talking about.
Thank you.
For a second I thought you were going to show up at my door and do it for me.

nice description mobetta

perfect actually

on the boat I have combination digital volt and amp meter by blue seas corp comes in handy tracing those errant currents

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commercial fisherman diesel in my blood in my boats trucks and Dear old Dad has had me drivin them since i got my first license in 1968
1986 300 SDL 427654
1999 Chevy Crew Cab Dually 225423
1986 300 SDL 287000 Dad's
1987 190 Turbo 158000 Mom's (my inheritance)