How to Identify Where the Car is Leaking Electricity?
2 Answers
Prepare a multimeter, generally set the range to 10A for cars; open the hood of the vehicle to be tested for electrical leakage. Connect the adjusted red probe of the multimeter to the vehicle's grounding wire, and the black probe to the negative terminal of the battery. Wait for 30 seconds and read the multimeter value to determine if there is an electrical leakage fault in the car. A current below 50 milliamperes is normal; if it exceeds 50, further inspection is required.
My car also had a power leakage issue before. An old driver taught me a traditional method: first disconnect the negative terminal of the battery and wait for ten minutes before reconnecting it. If the car can still start the next day, it means there's no problem. If the battery is drained again, then you need to investigate carefully. The specific operation is to turn off the engine, lock the car, set the multimeter to the current measurement mode, and connect it in series with the negative terminal of the battery. If the current exceeds 50 milliamperes, there is definitely a power leakage. At this point, you need to refer to the fuse box diagram and pull out the fuses one by one. When the current suddenly drops to a normal value after pulling a specific fuse, it indicates that the corresponding electrical circuit is causing the power leakage. Focus on checking aftermarket devices like dash cams, anti-theft systems, and audio systems, as these are most prone to wiring issues. Aging or short-circuited wiring can also cause power leakage, so inspect the wiring harness for any damage. If you can't figure it out, it's best to take it to a repair shop for professional equipment testing.
