Parasitic drain or starter?

[mossy oak]

What do you mean the other way around? I don't understand what you're saying? I suppose I could remove that panel and inspect closer. I scared myself when it cranked and just ended the mission. But, thinking back, I did loosen the ground wire today and inspect the cable to the frame, and it did stay charged all day...maybe the lose ground could have made the system do weird stuff? I don't know how because it would have to have the ground in order to "wake" the BCM in the first place correct?

 

[iamdub]

Pretty sure that relay is a starter disable from an aftermarket alarm. There should be two wires of matching colors on two of the relay terminals. This is actually one ignition wire that was cut and the two ends were terminated to the relay. If the alarm has been removed, you can just reconnect those wires and it should work like stock, then remove the relay.

 

[mossy oak]

Oh! I guess you're right. I checked the battery again after around 8 hours and it was still at 12.75-12.8 volts!!!! So maybe it was the ground but I like the theory of a door light being on too so I will also check that. And of course the vanity mirrors. Oddly enough I have a friend with a stellar 05 suburban z71 that he's considering dumping for about 4500 because of this very same issue

 

[HiHoeSilver]

Oh! I guess you're right. I checked the battery again after around 8 hours and it was still at 12.75-12.8 volts!!!! So maybe it was the ground but I like the theory of a door light being on too so I will also check that. And of course the vanity mirrors. Oddly enough I have a friend with a stellar 05 suburban z71 that he's considering dumping for about 4500 because of this very same issue

Buy it and fix it, that'll really burn him up!

 

[HiHoeSilver]

Pretty sure that relay is a starter disable from an aftermarket alarm. There should be two wires of matching colors on two of the relay terminals. This is actually one ignition wire that was cut and the two ends were terminated to the relay. If the alarm has been removed, you can just reconnect those wires and it should work like stock, then remove the relay.

Good call.

 

[mossy oak]

So....I've left the truck alone and haven't fooled with it any since cleaning negative termination on frame. Only other thing I did was pull the cig lighter fuse. When I replaced the fuse today, the draw didn't change at all. When I bought the truck it had a blown fuse there and that is why I pulled it. The voltage at battery only changed by a tenth of a volt. I don't understand it and I hope it's not that it was just left in a good state when I quit fooling with it. I will continue to update for others who may stumble across this post in need of help. It has been at least two or three days since I left it parked with ammeter in series and a jumper clamped on post and cable so I never broke circuit

 

[mossy oak]

So, to whomever may care, when I bought the truck it had a blown cig lighter fuse. When I cleaned frame ground at the bumper, I also pulled the cig lighter fuse. Everything went fine for about three days and today, I found time to check it out and clean it some and the battery was still at where I left it for the most part. I don't fool with it after that and tonight I go out and the voltage has dropped significantly so I removed that fuse again and will check it in the morning. I left the battery at 12.3 so we shall see. If it is at 12.3 in the morning then the cig lighter is my culprit most likely and I will just pull that fuse until I can find what is on that circuit and investigate better. I really didn't think it was the cig lighter because this morning when I checked the battery, still with the ammeter in series, I plugged the fuse in and there was no change in amperage. I'm not sure as of yet but i will get back with y'all. Hopefully this may help others in the future

 

[mossy oak]

Ok I got home this morning and the battery has same voltage it has when I left. Cig lighter is doing something funny after truck has been off for a while. It's going to be a monster to figure out but I'm gonna sell it and the OBD port power is on same circuit. I'll give it a go but...

 

[iamdub]

Selling it, huh?

 

[mossy oak]

Yes sir. I don't want to sell one with a known issue. It has been a fun project though I really got discouraged over the battery issue. I love these trucks I just wish GM had better electrical components. I think this one was owner induced perhaps