Battery drain from command start?

Hey eveyone,

Have a customer that has a 1995 GMC Sierra 5.7L, not diesel with a Command Start model CS290I. He says when he leaves it parked for a few days the battery goes dead. Do you know of any quick checks, would the command start even be the problem. I haven't looked at it yet, just trying to do a little research before hand.

Thanks

Ryan

Problem : Customer claims that the security system is draining the vehicle battery.

Solution : The following is a thorough test to determine exactly what, if anything, is causing an excessive current draw in the vehicle.

1. Make sure that all doors are closed and there are no dome or hood lights on.
   
2. Disconnect the negative terminal of the vehicle’ battery (If the vehicle has an anti-theft radio, be sure you know the code before disconnecting)
   
3. Select your digital multi-meter 10-amp DC scale.
   
4. Connect the multi-meter negative lead to the negative battery post and the positive lead to the terminal you removed in step 2
   
5. Cut the parking light output of your Crimestopper system (this will avoid excessive current draw when arming protecting your meter). Disarm the system and wait 30 seconds for the dome light to turn off. Now the total vehicle’s and alarm current is running through your meter. Write this measurement down.
   
6. Arm the system. Now the total vehicle’s and alarm in armed state current is running through your meter. Write this measurement down. You can now reconnect the parking light output of your Crimestopper system
   
7. Remove the alarm fuses, then take a second reading. This measurement is the vehicle’s current draw without the alarm. The difference is the total draw of the Crimestopper system in armed state and also in disarmed state.

This method shows us three important things : How much total current is being drawn, how much the vehicle draws it self, and how much the alarm systems draws.

A standard alarm system should draw anywhere from 0.02 amp (a basic system), to 0.1 amp (for a full blown system with multiple sensors,  Window module, remote starter, etc.). If the total for the alarm is higher than normal, you can test each fused line separately to determine what portion of the alarm system is drawing excessive current. Simply reconnect the battery’s negative terminal, and put your meter in line on one fuse holder at the time with the fuse removed.

Thanks a lot for the rundown. That will help a bunch. I wasn't quite sure if I should be using a shunt or not, but with the parking lights disconnected it should be ok.

Ryan