Parasitic Power Draw

[DustyCrevice]

Recently, my car has been giving me the system shutting down to save battery screen. My battery is only about 3 or 4 months old. Over the summer I had a faulty engine oil pressure sensor and replaced it myself by watching a video. In the video it mentioned a gasket being between the sensor and its input on the vehicle. I didn't see any gasket and replaced it without. The next morning my previous battery was dead. I jumped the vehicle, it started fine and I went on with my day. It was an extremely hot day but later that afternoon when I went to start the car my battery literally exploded. I replaced the battery and the vehicle began operating normally again except I got CEL for P0172 P0175. Last time I had that I had all sorts of trouble with the car before I realized it was due to the same issue as the recall regarding the fuel pump module. Idk if it was a fake CEL but I replaced the module AGAIN and it went away immediately.

Anyway, now I'm getting the system shutting down battery screen, pretty much faster and faster (my old battery was on its way out already when I was getting it). It had not ever before but this afternoon there was a little chug in the start when I got in after work. I haven't done any testing, I'm trying to learn how with a multitool because I'm not exactly the most technical person in the world, but I figure there has to be a parasitic draw somewhere and considering how immediately I had an issue when I replaced the oil pressure sensor even concluding with a dead battery, that seems a logical start, no?

If that is the issue, is it any sort of realistic danger? The battery exploding was just an anomaly, most likely, and not because I created a dangerous situation, right?

 

[Johnbigdog]

Ford draw spec after giving the car 45 mineuts to fall asleep is 50 mA (.05 amps)

The car is smart regarding battery manamgemt in that it learns the state of charge and remembers time in service. When the battery is replaced, the battery monitoring system (BMS) should be reset so the car knows it has a new battery. The car will learn the state of charge once it rests without a drain over 8 hours. This can have some effect on the battery saver message.

Before getting to deep into drain testing, what kind of batter did you buy? Did you put in a lead/acid or A.G.M? If you have an a.g.m. you may want to try a lead acid.

Recalling that your battery exploded, did you clean up the acid really well with baking soda and water? Especially the negative cable and battery monitoring sensor.

Install a battery disconect tool of some sort. If you don't use a quick disconect, you can go buy a fuse holder with a 10 amp fuse and extend the wires so you can wrap one end under the battery terminal arou.d the battery post, and conect the other to the battery terminal so you don't lose your conection. Remove the battery terminal, install D.V.O.M. (digital volt/ohm meter) and then remove the fuse in the fuse holder.

Go on a test drive, use every electronic feature of the car on your drive. Make sure everything works right.

After the drive, open the doors and use a pocket screw driver to latch the doors so the car thinks their closed. Same with the trunk. Open the hood and tape the hood ajar switch down. Don't lock the car and let it sit for an hour.

For draw testing, you can go and buy a battery disconect tool. This will make your life easy. Once the disconect is installed, you can set up your d.v.o.m. to read up to 10 amps and conect before and after the disconect. Once the d.v.o.m. is connected you can use your disconect the allow all current to flow through the meter.

If there is a draw over .05 amps, start pulling fuses one at a time under the hood and under the dash. Maybe take a few pictures of the fuse panels before you start ripping fuses so you can put them back in the right spot.

 

[Jeff2017]

Too bad you cannot reset the BMS thru the vehicle settings window like you can reset oil the change reminder. Seems dumb to make people take the car to the dealer to have the BMS reset. I replaced my battery without resetting the BMS. No problem so far.

 

[Majestic]

I have reset the BMS with forscan. Makes no difference for my car with the "system shut down" message. I have an Optima and the car starts and functions just fine. But I still get that stupid message within 2 minutes of turning off the car.