98 Current drain

[Blazr2]

I have a 98 with a 3.0 V6 I removed the positive terminal from the battery and with a test light conected between the post and conection it burned about 60-70% of its normal brightness. So I must have a current drain somewhere. I removed all the fuses in the box under the hood and inside the vehicle one at a time and seen no change. Any ideas on what is causing the drain? my dome lights go out as they should. Could it be the alternator? If so how can I check it out?

[nfmccann]

Originally Posted by Blazr2

I have a 98 with a 3.0 V6 I removed the positive terminal from the battery and with a test light conected between the post and conection it burned about 60-70% of its normal brightness. So I must have a current drain somewhere. I removed all the fuses in the box under the hood and inside the vehicle one at a time and seen no change. Any ideas on what is causing the drain? my dome lights go out as they should. Could it be the alternator? If so how can I check it out?

I'm with you...I have a 97 Grand Caravan with the 3.8L. Similar problems of slow cranking first thing in the morning so the current draw overnight is slow. We put a test lamp bwtween the neg post and connector and got the same 70% illumination. Could audible hear relay number 13 cycle in the power dist center near the drivers foot. Could also hear the motor in the cd player cycle. That relay subsequently burned out taking with it some radio functions...but the draw continued. Replaced the relay and back to square one...the 10 amp fuse label MEM in the main power dist box uder the hood removes power to both the relay and the radio so no more draw...but no more radio or interio lights... I am suspecting an alternator diode or possibly the pcm. Hate to throw parts at it like that...please continue to post your findings...Nick