I pulled the Clarion radio out while in the process of fixing my climate control problems. As mentioned in another topic, I re soldered some of the climate control solder points and fixed the intermittent blower / ac/ defrost trouble. BUT now, I am finding that the battery is not able to crank the starter if I start the car a bunch of times in one day or, if I don't use the car every day, it won't start without a jump....

To get the radio out, i used some small lenghts of metal and or plastic strapping material that is used to bind objects to pallets at my shop. I bring home 12" lengths of it from time to time and use them for all sorts of things... Wondering if this radio has an anti theft trigger that may have been activated while removing it.

How do I find out what is draining my battery as it is only 2 years old...

Should I pull the radio out and drive it like that for a few days or even a week to see if that makes a diff, or is there a way to tell if something is "on" while the car is sleeping...

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1985 300SD

One at a time, remove the fuses and check for draw with an ammeter. You can try with a test light but a heavy draw will pop the bulb. Isolate the circuit then isolate the component. Likely draws include the central locking pump and radio antenna.

Sixto
87 300D

i have also noticed that the relay for the glow plugs will vibrate or flutter at times, not sure if this has any relation to the battery draining. I hear it making noise when pulling in and or possibly out of my driveway , before or after my 40 mile commute.... not sure if I hear it near the workplace but will listen for it in the next few days...

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1985 300SD

The glow relay is so loud that you can hear it over the clatter of the engine???

Sixto
87 300D

the radio antenna has not been working since I bought the car. I extended the antenna and left it at that, 3 years ago...


Not sure if the previous owned disconnected anything that I may have reconnected when I put things back together during the climate control rebuild...

A picture of which fuse or fuse location for radio antenna would be helpful.

Forgot what else was mentioned so will look at the earlier post

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1985 300SD

can't agree with you more about the noise. The first time I heard it, (2 years ago) I opened up that box and noticed some carbon or some other deposit on one of the contact pairs. I cleaned up the contacts and replaced the components. Have not heard that noise since then. I did open up that box again, but did not see any buildup this time, BUT, the wire that is near the flat metal fuse has melted the plastic surrounding the encapsulated brass bolt that is found in the upper part of that box.... a hex nut holds the wire in place.

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1985 300SD

Start with the basics. With the car idling, what is your voltage measured at the battery? Have your battery charged then load tested. Make sure that plugs are not glowing.

You need to know that alternator and battery are both in good condition before chasing charging problems.

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85SD 240K & stopped counting painted, putting bac together. 84SD 180,000. sold to a neighbor and member here but I forget his handle. The 84 is much improved from when I had it. 85TD beginning to repair to DD status. Lots of stuff to do.

I am charging the battery right now. It was at 11.7 v when I started the charge...
will bring the battery to the place I purchased it (2 years ago).

I removed the radio for now as well...

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1985 300SD

battery voltage was 13.4 in the morning

13.4 at lunchtime

next morning 13.1

have not had time for load test but will record the voltage in the morning, tomorrow...

I think a wire was making contact somewhere in the radio compartment, perhaps it was draining the battery....

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1985 300SD