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Cadillac Repair/1992 Cadillac DeVille fuses

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Expert: - 9/29/2011


Question
My '92 cad has a short somewhere.  When I pull the 40 amp "ELC" maxi fuse under the hood it stops the drain on the battery. If I put the ELC fuse back in and I pull either or both fuses 11 & 12 i/p it still drains the battery.  Any ideas?   Thank you for your assistance!

Answer
Hello,

You are going to need to know what all is on the ELC circuit. Once you find that out, you disconnect every thing that goes to that circuit one at a time, check for draw at battery either by a meter or a test light, by putting either or between the positive cable and the battery. When you eliminate one by one, you will find the draw.
Now, the problem is there is only one way to find out what all is on the ELC circuit. A Cadillac electrical service manual. You are going to have to try to get one on ebay or craigs. 1990,91, 92, 93 are the same body and same equipment. Otherwise you are just guessing on a 20 year old car. Besides, if you are keeping the car, its a low cost investment because then you can do all future electrical repairs.
I don't even remember what ELC stands for anymore. Do not buy anything but a Cadillac electrical service manual.

I think the car is too old, but you could check out http://www.alldata.com, because if they did have it, you could download for $30.

One other thing, pulling other fuses will not help you as you found. You need to find everything o0n the ELC circuit.
ELC may stand for electronic leveling control, which would be your compressor for the rear air shocks, but it is not going to control just that in most cases. Its just a guess, but why don't you disconnect the compressor and see if the draw is gone. Wouldn't it be funny if I was right? Could be the sensor in the rear. Just thoughts.

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Rob Painter

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Alarm system questions cannot be answered on this forum. These systems are not what I can answer. Without being physically at the vehicle and not knowing what kind of electrical service has been done on the vehicle, there is no possible way to give an accurate answer over the internet. My expertise is in Ignition/key based anti-theft systems. These issues include GM VATS (resistor chip in key blade) PASSLOCK (MRD)-ignition lock rotation based, no special ignition key and the PKIII Transponder (computer chip in key) systems. These systems are not alarm based and are integral with the starting of the engine. This is why I cannot diagnose alarm problems without physically looking at the vehicle: Alarm systems are a completely different annimal than ignition key/lock based anti-theft system. Many alarm questions come from vehicles 10 years old, and since older, many hands that had been involved over the years.I am an expert in all GM factory (ignition/key based)systems. Alarm system questions pose to many situations beyond my knowledge as to what has been done to the vehicle over the years. Some guy may have actually wired the stereo into the alarm system. Who knows? Over my past 30 years in vehicle wiring repair, I have seen unbelievable wiring disaters done by guys that consider themselves "mechanics." I have seen stereos and alarms intalled using surgical tape. I have seen modules burn up, un-fused circuits, wiring jambed between the doors and even lamp cord used for a starter kill. To answer alarm questions over the internet without examining the vehicle is like asking; What does it take to remove a dent?

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Education/Credentials-ASE certified. 11 years with a GM dealer and 17 years with a repair facility dealing with only the repair of theft recovered vehicles.

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