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  #1  
Old 07-15-2008, 09:13 AM
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Battery drain in my SEC

I have a short or something that is draining the battery in my 1987 560 SEC. I noticed these two wires connected to the battery and don't know what they are for. The car has an after market radar detector installed in it which might be the culprit.

Can someone tell me if the small black and red wires connected to the battery terminals are supposed to be there? There is also a green wire that comes through the same opening in the firewall as the red and black ones. The green wire runs to the fuse box.

Thanks for your help.

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Battery drain in my SEC-battery-001.jpg   Battery drain in my SEC-battery-003.jpg   Battery drain in my SEC-battery-004.jpg  
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  #2  
Old 07-15-2008, 09:29 AM
t walgamuth's Avatar
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Also check your trunk light to be sure its shutting off.

Tom W
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Old 07-15-2008, 09:50 AM
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Okay, I'll check that, Tom. Thanks.
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" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles
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  #4  
Old 07-15-2008, 01:09 PM
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Those are definitely aftermarket wiring, and if they are routed directly to the battery and not switched, may well be the cause of your battery drain issue.

You might try pulling the fuse on the red wire, and see if you no longer have a problem.
Also look and see what isn't powered any more, and you'll know what was hacked into the car's wiring.
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  #5  
Old 07-15-2008, 02:10 PM
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Okay, thanks. I wasn't sure if they were supposed to be there or not. I'll bet they run back to the radar detector.
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" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles
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  #6  
Old 07-15-2008, 03:55 PM
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looks like the radio shack special to me. . .

is the radar detector any good? If not, it shouldnt be a challenging removal.
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Old 07-15-2008, 04:36 PM
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As soon as I have time, I'm going to disconnect it, recharge the battery, and see what happens. Radar detectors are actually illegal in VA, but I'd probably just leave it in there if it didn't present any problems.

I never did try it to see if it worked.
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" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles
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  #8  
Old 07-16-2008, 09:04 PM
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The radar detector actually worked! I was surprised, but yeah, being in Va, you need to unhook it before they pick up on it and fine your ass.

Bring it up here, we'll do a draw test on it and see what circuit is causing it.
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Old 07-17-2008, 08:58 AM
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Okay. Thanks, John. I unhooked the two wires that were hooked to the battery. There's a third, green wire that runs to the fuse box. I don't know if it's connected to the radar detector or not. I left that one alone.
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" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles
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Old 07-17-2008, 01:29 PM
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The green wire you refer to is for the ejection seat I had John install. I lovingly refer to it as the "wife seat".
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Old 07-17-2008, 02:41 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by powerpig View Post
The green wire you refer to is for the ejection seat I had John install. I lovingly refer to it as the "wife seat".
Most excellent!!!!
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  #12  
Old 07-17-2008, 02:56 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by powerpig View Post
The green wire you refer to is for the ejection seat I had John install. I lovingly refer to it as the "wife seat".
Well, you should have had John fix the sunroof then. As it stands now, the occupant of that seat would just get splattered all over the roof of the car.
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" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles
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  #13  
Old 07-17-2008, 02:57 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by powerpig View Post
The green wire you refer to is for the ejection seat I had John install. I lovingly refer to it as the "wife seat".
You must have a good relationship with Mrs PowerPig. I always thought the wife was supposed to ride in the trunk . . . .
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" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles
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  #14  
Old 07-17-2008, 03:46 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dee8go View Post
You must have a good relationship with Mrs PowerPig. I always thought the wife was supposed to ride in the trunk . . . .
I let her sleep inside when it's below 40F and ride in the front seat with her head hanging out the window when the trunk is over 100F.
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  #15  
Old 07-17-2008, 03:48 PM
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Oh, so THAT'S how you two get along so well . . . .

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" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles
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