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Parasitic Drain BUT not found using two multimeters | Forum

Topic location: Forum home » Support » General Questions
John
John May 29
Hi there guys & gals

I went outside to watch a YouTube video on my laptop and took it outside so I could refer to it while sitting in my Audi A3 1.9Tdi 8P1 March 2009 plate.

I latched both doors and the bonnet / hood

With my Robin AR4007 multimeter set to black lead in the common and red lead in 10a, max and the dial turned round to 10A I started getting the following readings the values kept hovering around 0.239 --- 0.240 then 0.300 then 0.560 then 0.141 then 0.112

0.073 --- 0.074.

The difference between the word "then" and the dash line --- = "then" the reading hovering backwards and forwards

The dash line ---started at the first number and finished at the second number.

While the Robin was sitting there doing its thing I used my other multimeter splinktech DM2 to check all the fuses on both

fuse boxes inside the cabin and under the hood and they ALL gave the same reading of 0.00, it got so bad I was even beginning to doubt my splinktech so I tested it on the + & - poles of the battery to get a reading I am still getting 12v etc.

But even after leaving the car for two days drains the battery, so now I uncouple the positive cable from the battery daily.

Does anybody have any ideas ?
Sonia Ellison
Sonia Ellison May 31
If you find the draw, you can replace the faulty component or consult with a mechanic to fix it.
Patty Long
Patty Long May 31

I had a similar issue with my car battery draining, and it turned out to be a parasitic draw. Based on your multimeter readings, it seems like you might have a similar problem. When you’re seeing values fluctuate like that, it’s usually an indicator that something is drawing power intermittently. I used my multimeters to track it down. In my case, it was a faulty relay that kept the electronics awake even when the car was off. Try checking all the relays and see if any of them are warm to the touch after the car has been off for a while. 


Also, make sure you’re checking the multimeter settings and connections, as sometimes a simple configuration issue can give you weird readings. Double-check the grounding points and try measuring with other Multimeters just to be sure. Good luck!