Can't locate parasitic draw

Mitsubishi Delica L400 production commenced in 1994 -- After much anticipation, the L400 arrived on Canadian Soil in 2009!
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Avittery
Posts: 17
Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2016 12:25 am
Member's Photo Album: http://www.delica.ca/Photos/
Vehicle: 96 L400 LWB
Location: N. Vancouver island

Can't locate parasitic draw

Post by Avittery »

Ever since I have owned my L400 it has had a parasitic drain that draws about 280 mAmps. There is a battery switch that I have to constantly use to prevent a dead battery.
I've tested every fuse inside underneath the steering wheel, and under the hood and couldn't find anything.

Does anyone have any suggestions of where else to test? Thanks!
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deskinthewoods
Posts: 232
Joined: Thu Mar 08, 2018 10:35 am
Member's Photo Album: http://www.delica.ca/Photos/
Vehicle: 1991 L300 Star Wagon named "Wilson"
Location: Wakefield, Québec

Can't locate parasitic draw

Post by deskinthewoods »

I just went through this on my L300.

No fuses pulled showed any difference but I also checked the fusible links, which I’d assume you may also have. A set of wires by the battery, hooked in on the positive side. Maybe 3 or 4 of them. Pull each of those.

Although one of mine did stop the drain I still couldn’t find the grounded wire in the loom.

I accidentally stumbled on the culprit though. The main connection at the alternator. The rubber protective cover had split and the wire was grounding on the alternator body. I taped it up and repositioned so it wasn’t touching.

Long story. Check the alternator.
My dad used to say,"If you can read, you can do anything!"
DeliTan2
Posts: 46
Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2019 9:26 am
Member's Photo Album: http://www.delica.ca/Photos/
Vehicle: L400 Series 1 LWB
Location: south interior of BC

Can't locate parasitic draw

Post by DeliTan2 »

For me it was my crappy Chinese stereo

john
sck_nogas
Posts: 9
Joined: Tue Sep 04, 2018 7:43 am
Member's Photo Album: http://www.delica.ca/Photos/
Vehicle: 1991 L300 Delica Super Exceed
Location: San Diego, CA

Can't locate parasitic draw

Post by sck_nogas »

What I had to do to find my parasitic draw in my L300, was think outside the box. :)

1 - Connect my battery to a trickle charger
2 - Let the car sit overnight
3 - Use a FLIR One Gen3 iPhone adapter (about $200) to look at the temperature of things in the car
4 - Nothing under the dash was warm (around 64F)
5 - Nothing in the battery box was warm (except the battery)
6 - The engine was cold (around 68F)
7 - The turbo and exhaust were warm (but that seemed reasonalble at 78F)
8 - The alternator was GLOWING at 110F

Turns out I had a bad diode. The previous owner and their mechanics had just put on a quick battery disconnect and forgot about it, but that would drive me crazy!

The FLIR is useful for finding insulation issues in homes, cold drafts, Water leaks (due to moisture being cooler), and now electrical issues. :D
Avittery
Posts: 17
Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2016 12:25 am
Member's Photo Album: http://www.delica.ca/Photos/
Vehicle: 96 L400 LWB
Location: N. Vancouver island

Can't locate parasitic draw

Post by Avittery »

Well I narrowed it down to the alternator fusible link and tested the diode on my alternator and it's totally fine! the draw is still there even with the alternator completely disconnected. There must be a bad diode somewhere between the alternator and the battery.
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