I knew that connecting across the fuse would show a drain and i even have a chart based on different rates for different fuses but I never knew how it worked until you explained it. Thank you and keep the good work coming, it is appreciated
JUST HAD A MERCEDES CLS500 WITH A BATTERY DRAIN, THAT FUSE CHECK DID NOT SEEM TO WORK ON ONE OF THE SYSTEMS THAT WHERE CAUSING THE PROBLEM . IT WOULD NOT SHOW UP ON A METER WITH A VOLTAGE DROP TEST OR MAY BE NOT WHILE I WAS CHECKING IT . ONE OF THE DTC CODES LED ME TO CHECK THE OTHER SYSTEM THAT WAS THE PROBLEM . I ONLY WISH I HAD A THERMAL CAMERA TO HAD TAKEN A LOOK AT THE TIME . THANKS MATT FOR YOUR TIME AND EFFORT .
That would be good to have a thermal camera, I don't have one yet, I have tried a thermal temperature gauge to see if it would work but I had no success. Thanks for watching
Hi Matt, I heard your fantastic accent before I watched your first video! Been re-learning my 1970's self-taught auto-electric skills on my wife's Polo 1.4 petrol (9N) that has a battery drain and has stopped the Electric Power Steering. Although I got it to work again after checking and cleaning all grounds - working through battery drops. Radio next now I have my other Meter working. As I don't have a full wiring schematic - Haynes Manual is only partial! Best wishes and keep up the insights - they are really so well presented you should be teaching the subject! Iain
Yeah, the fuses that are sealed at the top are a pain, I tried using back probing pond to get down to the terminal, it's a lot of messing around. Puts extra time onto the job.
Ive got a battery drain on my 2009 Mondeo. Its got an aftermarket head unit but this came already fitted to the car and has been fine up till recently. Could the head unit SUDDENLY start causing this problem? The drain is so bad that theres not even enough power in the battery to operate the central locking from the remote fob
It could possibly be the radio that is causing the battery drain. I would check the battery condition and charge if necessary, then load test the battery. Then I would check for a drain at the battery and see how many milliamps of a draw their is. After that I would chase a drain if it was over 50 milliamps. Some times to speed things up I disconnect the cars battery and connect a jump pack or slave battery to the cars terminals. then check for a drain, that way I can let the car fully go to sleep and test the draw without charging the battery first.
Lol ,just bought same clamp meter a few days and yesterday had an 2010 petrol 1.6 Mondeo nonstarter .Is the fuel pump relay located in engine bay panel ,I think it must be small black one . Spent a few good hours looking for a service manual for this and found only for olders cars only .It become harder and harder to find informations and wiring ,no more free stuff , already had a look on Etis online prices ,I guess it is time to spent some money from pocket .....
I feel your pain, I used to buy a Haynes manual for my cars as the wiring diagrams in the back were always dead useful, nowadays you only have a few very basic circuits in them and everything else is 'refer to main dealer' 😥
They are certainly not helpful like they used to be for engine wiring diagrams. I bought a wire tracker thinking it would help but it's not like wiring diagram.
Hi Just looking to get myself uni t multimeter Ive checked urs and its about 85 quid What parameters do Ii need to look for and what is the difference between yours and 25 quid uni t 89.or 17 Thanks
Hi Sergei, I find it better having a multi meter that can read amps in series for an accurate measurement, the amp clamps is fine but it gives me incorrect amp reading when I am checking for something small like a drain. The ability to have min and max settings is useful for checking the battery conditions during cranking and charging. Duty cycle and Hertz are useful for automotive use for digital MAF or MAP testing. Also you could use an amp clamps attachment if you want to check around a wire.
@@mechanicmatt871Hi I've ordered uni t clamp 204plus .waiting to be delivered, Trying to get more in to understanding electrical side of the car ,how to troubleshoot sensors,wires etc If you don't know it you will start to install new parts on the car trying to eliminate the problem when sometimes it just a dodgy wire )) Thank you for the reply and ur video
hawe a mk4 mondeo after test shake down got a baterry drain when true the fuses 3-4 times didnt find anyhing . even positive terminal heats up on the baterry if it runs for longer time my gues i hawe bear wire touching the engine or the body somewhere thts a next thing i try to check on my next day off any sugestions or a ideas are welcome
Hi Tj I think if the positive terminal is heating up, I would check the fitment for being clean and tightness. Maybe put an inline multi meter right there when the terminal is disconnected to check the amps. It could be a high resistance there.
It can take an hour for the car to fully go to sleep, so the amp meter would need to be connected for that long before you take a reading. You may already know that, .5 amps is way too high though.
@@mechanicmatt871 yea i know discharges battery quickly ... tried alot even taking key farr away from the car cuz mine is titanium x push button start and screen in the dash i know takes long time to setle down for a car , tried alot off things one strange thind do i noticed when i hawe amp meter conected air went flaps opens and closes now and agayn bt the car is locked
