Expert: Van - 12/10/2005

Question
I know you aren't "specialized" in this, but I trust that you can take an educated guess (and probably hit the mark, too)  My 97 Astro has been drained dead after 2 and a half days or so of sitting.  Nothing that I know of has been draining it.  After a new battery, the thing made a clicking noise non-stop (nothing was on, no key in the ignition, etc..) from behind the console area.  In an hour, the thing was dead and battery ruined.  (It won't take any recharging from a charger.)  So, I don't have a clue what it could be.  What do you think?  (and remember.. I am a woman.. give me very good instructions.)  Thanks!

Answer
Hello Rose,
I am going to send you a link on tracking down battery drain problems.
That clicking sound could be a turn signal flasher, but I doubt it, cause I can't think of a time when I have seen one of them flash without the signal lights on.
It sounds more like a self resetting circuit breaker.
Some things that use one are the electric windows, and the power seat.
The windows dont operate with the key off, so it shouldn't be that one, but the seats do operate with the key off, so it could easily be that. Try moving the seat control and see if the clicking quits.

Basically, what that link is going to tell you is to remove fuses, one at a time. But you are going to need a charged battery first.

There could be a light timer module behind the dash doing the clicking. If you have a piece of gerden hose about three feet long, you can hold one end of it against one ear, and use the other end like a stethescope to locate the clicking noise. If it is a circuit breaker, it should be in the fuse block, and look like a piece of Dentine gum wrapped in foil, or it could be black plastic, but still about that same size and shape.

If you follow the steps from that link, keep in mind that light modules, and security systems will draw some power for a little while after the door is closed.

http://electric.articles.mbz.org/drain/

Good luck,
Van