[mlud00]

Just took my 2012 V6 out of storage, about 3 months total, with a few exceptions, and my battery was dead. I did put a trickle charge on in about a month ago, for 2 days, and also drove it for about 5 miles once around that time, but for the most part it stood parked. The car is actually a very early 2012, built around May 2011, so battery would be about 4 yrs old. From what I read the 96r batteries aren't the longest life batteries, but that's another story. My question is, when I went to advance auto to check the battery, the guy put a meter on it and said there was a 3.5 amp draw even with the car shut off. Does anyone know if that is normal? This guy seems to think not, saying it's the equivalent to a dome light being on all the time. I can't find anything that would draw current, no lights on or accessories. I don't have an active alarm, just whatever came with the base V6. Am I missing something or is this normal?

 

[Strange Mud]

idk about the #'s but have read the same about batteries. The two things I'll ask about are w/o insulting nothing plugged into the aux ports and lower the back seats to check if the trunk light is staying on.

 

[Fabulozzz]

make sure you don't have anything plugged in the 12v outlets as those are ALWAYS on , not switched.

 

[David Young]

Was your Mustang once a rental? Here or on another Mustang Forum someone bought a former rental, it had a tracking device under the dash still wired with led lights on. Just something to check

 

[mlud00]

Nothing plugged in, I have a convertible, so seats dont fold down, but I checked trunk, no lights on. Last post is interesting, yes it was a rental... I'll have to find the thread with the tracking subject. Very intriguing... Let me look into it. Honestly I'm not sure what it means that there is a 3.5amp load on battery, but I'm looking into it. Maybe that's why battery drains over time. Next winter I'm disconnecting battery.

 

[Ride-the-Pony]

Just took my 2012 V6 out of storage, about 3 months total, with a few exceptions, and my battery was dead. I did put a trickle charge on in about a month ago, for 2 days, and also drove it for about 5 miles once around that time, but for the most part it stood parked. The car is actually a very early 2012, built around May 2011, so battery would be about 4 yrs old. From what I read the 96r batteries aren't the longest life batteries, but that's another story. My question is, when I went to advance auto to check the battery, the guy put a meter on it and said there was a 3.5 amp draw even with the car shut off. Does anyone know if that is normal? This guy seems to think not, saying it's the equivalent to a dome light being on all the time. I can't find anything that would draw current, no lights on or accessories. I don't have an active alarm, just whatever came with the base V6. Am I missing something or is this normal?

No that amp draw is not normal there is something either on like a light somewhere (glove box, trunk, ect, an accessory on or there is a short somewhere that is causing the draw. To find the source of the draw is quite simple but a little time consuming. Get a multi meter set on DC amps either 20 amp or 10 but 20 is better. Put one lead on the negative battery terminal and the other lead on a ground such as metal part of frame. You will see the 3.5 amp draw on meter. Now one by one pull all the fuses and replace until you pull the fuse that will cause the draw to drop to zero or no higher than one or two tenths of an amp. Once you locate that fuse look in owners manual or google what circuit it goes to and look and see if a light or other accessory is on. If not you will need to pull panels and check the wiring to see if there is a dead short causing the draw. From the 3.5 amp though it sounds more like something is on. Good luck!

 

[Strange Mud]

don't you have to either put the meter in line with the wire or have a clamp on meter?

If the seats don't fold down do you have kids? Just make sure the wife ain't home....

 

[Ride-the-Pony]

don't you have to either put the meter in line with the wire or have a clamp on meter?

If the seats don't fold down do you have kids? Just make sure the wife ain't home....

One lead from the multi-meter (doesn't matter which one, red or black but I prefer red myself) goes on the negative battery post and the other lead to a ground source. The meter will measure any amp draw. A clamp on lead is helpful but not necessary. For those wondering why not test from the positive side of the battery, if you encounter a short you don't want to have that on the positive side of the battery.

 

[RodgerJerney]

My car gets parked for most of the winter. I put my little Battery Tender Plus (intended for motorcycles) on the car at various times. I know I'm putting a motorcycle trickle charger on a car, but still, it takes a long time for it fully charge. I think too, there is a draw on my battery. There is no leaving the lights on with my car. After ten minutes or so, they turn off. Nothing plugged into the power ports.

I do have that red blinking light on the dash, tho.

 

[Ride-the-Pony]

My car gets parked for most of the winter. I put my little Battery Tender Plus (intended for motorcycles) on the car at various times. I know I'm putting a motorcycle trickle charger on a car, but still, it takes a long time for it fully charge. I think too, there is a draw on my battery. There is no leaving the lights on with my car. After ten minutes or so, they turn off. Nothing plugged into the power ports.

I do have that red blinking light on the dash, tho.

Modern cars have computers that run systems checks and other electrical stuff and over time will kill the battery if you don't drive them from time to time and do not use a battery tender. If you don't plan on driving every three weeks or so it's best to use a tender.

 

[BrewGuy]

Modern cars have computers that run systems checks and other electrical stuff and over time will kill the battery if you don't drive them from time to time and do not use a battery tender. If you don't plan on driving every three weeks or so it's best to use a tender.

The owner's manual says to start and let run to running temperature at least once every 2 weeks to maintain the battery. It also says to roll it back and forth at least 25 feet to keep the grease in the bearings etc.

 

[David Young]

Click on this link about the tracking device What is this - The Mustang Source - Ford Mustang Forums