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2003 Honda Accord Couple V6 EX-L Battery Vampire Circuit

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  #1  
Old 01-08-2019, 07:38 PM
techie768's Avatar
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Default 2003 Honda Accord Couple V6 EX-L Battery Vampire Circuit

All,

I have a 2003 Honda Accord Couple V6 EX-L automatic with Navigation, now with 236K miles, whose battery is drained every morning.

1. Last year I had the alternator replaced.
2. I bought a new battery two days ago.

When I jump the car it works great and the battery retains charge from the alternator becuase I can restart the car multiple times afterwards. However, went I let it sit overnight, it is drained the next morning.

A. I used my multi-meter to verify (from the negative battery terminal) that there is a 3.75A current flow even AFTER the car is turned off and all light and other electrical consumers (radio/cabin ligts/trunk light) are off.

B. I tried pulling each fuse in the fuse boxes I could find (Cabin passenger side/main fuse box in the engine compartment/And there seem to be a smaller fuse box with one fuse box next to it) while watching the multi-meter amperage AND stay around 3.75A.
IS there another fuse box elsewhere?

There is a residual current flow of 3.75A after the car is turned off that is draining my battery. When I disconnect my negative terminal my car starts fine at reconnection.

Do anyone has any thoughts about this issue?

Thanks alot in advance.
 
  #2  
Old 01-08-2019, 08:35 PM
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Did the battery drain start recently, or when you replaced the alternator?

Try the same amp test but unplug the alternator connections.

There are 2 fuse boxes. One in the engine bay and one under the driver's dash inside the car. Did you mean driver's cabin?

Can you take a picture of the small fuse box with one fuse?

Does this vehicle have an aftermarket or OEM Honda accessory security system?
 
  #3  
Old 01-09-2019, 12:24 AM
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The battery drain started last week.
The alternator was replaced last year.
Yes. I meant the cabin fuse box on the passenger side.

Here are two pictures that shows the "small fuse box" adjacent to the main fuse box in the engine compartment. The light blue "fuse" on the upper left outside edge of the main fuse box is what I thought was an additional fuse box. Also is the component marked 50 50 in that corner also a fuse?

The bottom pic shows that light blue "fuse" covered over.



 
  #4  
Old 01-09-2019, 08:05 AM
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Sorry, I mean the cabin fuse box on the DRIVER side!
 
  #5  
Old 01-09-2019, 09:15 AM
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I would try the following...

1) Check your relays... one of them could be broken and "closed" or shorted even with the engine off.
2) Pull each fuse and check for continuity from each post to ground. If you get 0 ohms on BOTH posts, then that is the problem area.
3) Check the alternator, the rectifier bridge could be bad.
 

Last edited by rockhoundrob; 01-09-2019 at 09:23 AM.
  #6  
Old 01-10-2019, 01:23 AM
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You already know this, but in the meantime, until the problem is fixed, you might want to install a battery disconnect, to protect your battery from damage. I have a parasitic drain, 1 amp x 90 minutes, on my 2005 Accord Hybrid that I have not resolved yet. I've pretty much adapted to disconnecting the battery when I turn off the car for a while. Your 3.75 amps is much higher.
 
  #7  
Old 01-17-2019, 07:55 AM
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Thank you. I have a circuit disconnect which I am currrently using.
 
  #8  
Old 01-17-2019, 07:56 AM
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How do I check my relays? Is there a device to check these?
 
  #9  
Old 01-18-2019, 07:55 AM
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Pull the relays and use a 9 volt battery and wire to activate the relay. if you hear it clicking, then it's likely to be OK.

If you can't do this, then check it with an ohm meter. If you get 0 ohms on the switch, then it is shorted.get a new relay
 
  #10  
Old 01-18-2019, 08:00 PM
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I'm pretty sure all the relays are protected by fuses, so this may not help identify the source of the battery drain.

Do you have any kind of alarm system on this car?

Did you try your amp draw test after unplugging the connectors to the alternator?
 


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