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View Full Version : Advice needed! Battery drain problem



jwei
04-12-2013, 09:03 PM
So heres my problem:
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My battery seems to be dying like crazy, I hooked up a multimeter today and it shows a draw of 200 MA when the doors are unlocked, and 270MA~ when locked. I have an aftermarket stereo installed as well as remote started put in place (from different places) but I've disconnected the fuse for the audio system, immobilizer and the parasitic drain was still there.
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Last year this time, my alarm kept randomly going off so I disconnected my hood latch alarm and that stopped it but I believe it prevents it from going into sleep mode which *may* be causing the drain. I've checked out a few friends' Mazdas (this is 04-08's) and none of them have it which makes me curious as to how to disable it/why they arent experiencing the drain/whether its related to the remote starter/alarm install. Also, my key fobs are all dead so I've been just manually using the key to enter the car.
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SO, I think I have two options:
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a) replace the hood latch module, hope that the drain is fixed (approx cost $100~).
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b) possibly go to a more reputable/different alarm installer and get a new remote starter installed and get them hopefully to look over everything to make sure its working (approx cost $140~...not sure if they'll be able to get the drain fixed/charge more for removal of the old one but on the plus side I'll get new fobs?).
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My current system is a Viper 5902, so it cost almost $400 when I had it installed:S. I think i'll just get a basic model (one way) to sub in since I realized I don't need all the fancy features.
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Any advice/input/help is greatly appreciated (please to chime in)! I know its a lot of text so thanks in advance for reading/helping (I typed it via phone so hopefully its not too hard to read)!
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Cab0oze
04-12-2013, 10:52 PM
-edit-
re-read the OP and decided that my response was useless. sorry! I have no idea about aftermarket alarms and how they're installed. It sounds like an annoying issue, but with a multimeter you should be able to troubleshoot it (and learn some stuff in the process)

jwei
04-13-2013, 11:24 AM
No worries, thanks for the input tho! I did learn a little bit with the multimeter but am still stumped at this pointt

Jackal
04-13-2013, 11:32 AM
Check out this thread. See post #10 video. It's meticulous but you'll find it, I think.
http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?68363-Electrical-Issue&highlight=Battery

jwei
04-13-2013, 12:09 PM
Check out this thread. See post #10 video. It's meticulous but you'll find it, I think.
http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?68363-Electrical-Issue&highlight=Battery

Thanks for this, do you know what would be related to the hood latch alarm/sleep mode entry of the car? I have a strong suspicion its related to that but cant find the fuse for it.

EDIT: I've tried the immobilizer fuse also the alarm fuse is empty:S

jwei
04-23-2013, 04:27 PM
Just to update this thread:

I replaced the hood latch and it has helped a little with the draw. But after pulling a bunch of fuses I found the main culprit. Its the Control Unit and Hazard Lights Turn signal fuses (both are separate fuses). Strange thing is when I reconnect *EITHER* one of them, it kicks back up to 200 however upon removal of BOTH, it drops down to 40 MA.

My right turn signal has been funny for over a year now (whenever I use it, it'll stay on regardless if the turn has already been completed). I've just been manually flicking it back when completing the turn so I didn't think that would be related to it?

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Or if you know someone who I can consult with it would be awesome as well.

Noisy Crow
04-23-2013, 06:27 PM
I can check the wiring diagram for you.... If I don't post something by tomorrow feel free to send me a PM to remind me.

TheMAN
04-24-2013, 04:18 PM
the PJB maybe bad
I have diagnosed an issue like yours and after replacing the PJB, the problem was fixed

your turn signal switch needs to be replaced or the canceller cam is broken... I'm putting my money on the switch though... the fact that it doesn't cancel itself after turning the wheel means something is wrong.. replace it first and go from there.... if it continues, it's the PJB

Noisy Crow
04-24-2013, 06:08 PM
The only fuse I see protecting the turn/hazard lights is one of the main fuses. What are the numbers of the guses you are talking about? Shoukd be marked on the cover....F50 etc.

ptr123
11-05-2016, 07:31 PM
Hello Jwei
I have the same problem with drain and with the similar symptoms (200mA with cpu and hazard fuses and 40mA without both of them). Could you tell me how did you finally solve this problem? What was a cause of the drain?
Best regards, Piotr

JonsMazda
11-06-2016, 01:38 AM
Hello Jwei
I have the same problem with drain and with the similar symptoms (200mA with cpu and hazard fuses and 40mA without both of them). Could you tell me how did you finally solve this problem? What was a cause of the drain?
Best regards, Piotr

Don't think he's coming back. Hasn't been active for 7months now.