Drawing power when starting

I've tried changing my starter, battery, looked for loose wires, can't figure out my problem. For some reason when I go to turn my car over it draws all my power from the battery and doesn't have the juice to turn over. If I boost the car it starts and runs fine. So with 2 batteries it has enough juice. Alternator is charging the battery and battery holds charge. Can put it in my other car and they work, same with my starters. Anyone got major grounds in their mind that I may be missing? It's grounded on my intake manifold, near my clutch line up front, and fat starter ground on the tranny... I haven't checked my starter relay but doesn't seem like it could be a relay issue:S...... ECU maybe?? I have no idea anymore.. Been riding with a spare battery in my car to boost myself for too long now... Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks

Did you try turning the engine by hand with a wrench on the crank sprocket? Does it take a "normal" amount of effort to turn? When you crank with the starter do your interior lights go out?

Motor is good definatly electrical

If you have a multimeter check the voltage drop on your cables when the vehicle is cranking. I think .2v is the maximum allowable. That should show you any bad connections in a hurry.

This still isn't fixed... I have 2 batteries wired in my car right now (yes a true bandaid on this one:)) ... And still sometimes draws to much juice... Could a sensor or starter relay be bad? Starts fine when being boosted.. Alternator reads 13.9-14.1.... And my capacitor reads 12.4 before I crank it over and drops different volts each time basically... From .2 - .6

I had a similar problem on my 2g. I started by taking apart the fuse box in the engine bay and following each wire. I pulled all the fuses and relays out.

Set your multimeter to amps and check for a power draw, put the fuses back in one at a time.

In my situation, the stock 2g infinity amp was pulling 2.5v !!! with the car turned off. My battery wouldn't last very long.

Alright I will check that this weekend thanks!

Did a quick check with the ignition on, car not started.. FOG relay blew fuse when I touched it and now reads 0... RAD was good ... Alternator was 2.5 ? Normal? Tails only drew .02 or something ... Head lights were 12, normal of course cuz they were on... But then when I tried my WDO is started smoking in the harness cuz it was drawing so much power ... Eek

Just checked that WDO again and it draws 12 v with the ignition off... Is the wdo only my power windows?
And negative terminal, hot!

It looks like you found your problem! 2.5v on the alternator is not normal... this happens when the diode in the alterntor is going, and 12v from something else?.. dam

The most common sources of major power draw come from busted power door lock relays, power windows switches and the alternator.

Nothing should be drawing more than 0.25v with the car off and key out. Even with the ignition on 12v draw is not normal.

Most dsm's draw around 0.14v with everything turned off.



It looks like you are getting close!

Well my headlights were 12 and my WDO, so power windows, was also 12 AND started smoking under the fuse tray checking for amps with ignition off!!!

Also just went and found my lights weren't working, pulled out my running lights fuse circuit board thing from passenger side kickboard and the Black TR fuse thing was burnt bad... Changed it up and they work again, so I fried that while checking those fuses.

I will also add that the negative on the battery seems to cool off when the car is running.... Got real hot sitting there, not running, ignition OFF!

Guess I'll try the alternator and rip my doors apart for now... Bah what a 6 month old headache! Lol

It sounds to me like you have a damaged wiring harness.. probably near the fuse box.

Has the car always been like this? You might have to start replacing actual wires. Follow one draw at a time... and replace anything in its path (relays, switches etc.

its hot because something is drawing immense power from the battery when the alternator is not charging it. Something is short circuited !!! corroded or cut wires or melted relay stuck together. This could start a fire if its not fixed.

Yes I know it could start fire, I have a fire extinguisher on my passenger seat lol...

In that case, I'll rip my dash out I guess:(. ... Think I may just put my other 1990 on the road for now