battery being drained what can i do?

Ok, First disconnect the negative terminal of the battery. Then make sure all your doors are closed and ALL LIGHTS ARE TURNED OFF( if you don't you will blow the meter's fuse). Set your meter to mA and place red lead in the appropriate place (I do mean mA if you don't then your meter may not give you an accurate reading). Place red lead on the ground from the car. Then place the BLACK/ com lead on the battery's ground. Leave it sit for 30 minutes to allow the vehicle's computers to go to sleep. If the reading is above 50mA then according to GM there is a parasitic power draw. At this time start pulling fuses. Take note of the reading before the computer goes to sleep and after 30 minutes. If the number is the same then there is something keeping the computers on and that is your problem. Anything that tries to draw power from any wire that would normally shut down would cause this.Certified Security Specialist

Always check info with a digital multimeter.

I promise to be good.

Tell Darwin I sent you.

I've been sick lately, sorry I won't be on much.

Red probe goes in the 10amp terminal and the black probe goes in the com terminal...make sure the meter is set to dc Amps. If it still isn't working chances are the fuse is blown inside the meter...take the cover off and there will be 2 glass tube fuses inside on is for the 10 amp terminal. While doing this test, like mentioned, positive battery terminal needs to be connected and the negative off, your meter goes inline with the negative terminal and post and make sure everything is off, even the under hood courtesy light.

i checked and the fuse for the meter was blown. i can't seem to find them anywhere though.

does anyone know were i can pick them up the models are

BUSS FUSE  DMM-44/100

      andBUSS FUSE DMM-11A

they are for the Fluke 77 III meter

Damn they are expensive. Outpost.com (fry's electronics) has them.Certified Security Specialist

Always check info with a digital multimeter.

I promise to be good.

Tell Darwin I sent you.

I've been sick lately, sorry I won't be on much.

I'm having a similar problem. I can check my battery in the morning and it'll read around 11.80 to 11.90. I can drive the car and park it and check, it'll read 12.24 or so. If it sits for 2 days it'll read lower, around 11.70. The longer it sits, the lower it'll read. I know something is drawing power when the car is off. How do I determine what it is? This has been going on for quiet some time and I've been looking. I can't seem to pinpoint what is causing this to happen.'85 Toy

Another question, if I charge that battery and remove the positive cable and leave it off for a couple of days, shouldn't it still read over 12 volts?'85 Toy

a charged battery at rest will read apx. 12.66 volts.

sexyvic1 wrote: i checked and the fuse for the meter was blown. i can't seem to find them anywhere though. does anyone know were i can pick them up the models are BUSS FUSE  DMM-44/100       and BUSS FUSE DMM-11A they are for the Fluke 77 III meter

I get my Fluke fuses from Lowes and Home Depot.. but they are still around $5.00 each. That's why I use a cheaper meter (with cheaper fuses) to measure current.

Jim