Discussion:
Help, please. Battery Drain. 300SD
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Oregon Gears and Sprockets
2011-03-02 19:35:34 UTC
Permalink
1984 300SD.
I hopped in the car, stuck the key in the ignition, turned it and the
seat started moving (!) and the starter turned slowly like being
powered by a dead battery. I charged up the battery and the car
started fine. I let it sit overnight and once again, when I tried to
start it the seat would move and the engine would turn slowly:
discharged battery (which tested twice as good). I pulled the fuses to
the power seats to I do not know if this will shut down the seat power
system since there seems to be a high-power circuit.

I am away from my tools and manuals thus I was forced to do a Google
search. I could not find where the hot wire goes to the door and the
seat. I want to disconnect the power to the seats until I have access
to my garage and tools and can just run new wire to all those places
that have suffered the wear of ages.

So, could someone please let me know where I can unhook the power to
the seats? It seems obvious that this is a power seat issue caused by
a 26 year, 280k miles-old wire. If I am wrong, please let me know. The
battery light is running at half-brightness all the time and there is
no indication the alt is charging.

Many thanks for your help.
John Simpson
2011-03-02 20:23:52 UTC
Permalink
"Oregon Gears and Sprockets" wrote in message news:523b5c55-456e-4f3f-8203-***@w7g2000pre.googlegroups.com...

1984 300SD.
I hopped in the car, stuck the key in the ignition, turned it and the
seat started moving (!) and the starter turned slowly like being
powered by a dead battery. I charged up the battery and the car
started fine. I let it sit overnight and once again, when I tried to
start it the seat would move and the engine would turn slowly:
discharged battery (which tested twice as good). I pulled the fuses to
the power seats to I do not know if this will shut down the seat power
system since there seems to be a high-power circuit.

I am away from my tools and manuals thus I was forced to do a Google
search. I could not find where the hot wire goes to the door and the
seat. I want to disconnect the power to the seats until I have access
to my garage and tools and can just run new wire to all those places
that have suffered the wear of ages.

So, could someone please let me know where I can unhook the power to
the seats? It seems obvious that this is a power seat issue caused by
a 26 year, 280k miles-old wire. If I am wrong, please let me know. The
battery light is running at half-brightness all the time and there is
no indication the alt is charging.

Many thanks for your help.

You have all the symptoms of a bad (read corroded) ground connection
somewhere. For openers, I would check both ends of the negative battery
cable.

JAS
Tiger
2011-03-07 03:38:41 UTC
Permalink
Ground cable... change it... it is easy and clean any rust spots.

I think there is a good possibility that your alternator voltage regulator
is also bad... due to alternator light half lit.
Martin Joseph
2011-03-10 06:11:56 UTC
Permalink
Post by Tiger
Ground cable... change it... it is easy and clean any rust spots.
I think there is a good possibility that your alternator voltage regulator
is also bad... due to alternator light half lit.
Glad to see you guys are still here, although it looks like you are
swimming in SPAM these days (those bastards).

The power seat immediately coming on seems to me to suggest a hung
relay? Or perhaps as the OP suggested a shorted wire.

Tiger knows way more then little old me though...
Marty

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