draining battery (99 windstar)

[mwedding]

This may sound like several other posts that I have searched through, but I'll post anyway.

The battery in our windstar will totally drain if the vehicle is not driven twice a day. Basically, it will drain in less than a day. I checked the current draw on the battery (with engine off, doors closed, key out of ignition). The draw was huge (~6-800 mAmps). Knowing that you can charge a battery with a 2A charge overnight, I understand why my battery is draining with a 0.8A draw constantly.

I think I have narrowed this down to Relays 1 and 4. The manual refers to these as "Switched power #3" and "Switched power #4". Each are responsible for around 250 mAmps. I do not know why these relays are energized. One of them powers the dome light circuit, including the dome/reading lights in the roof console and the reading lights over the sliding doors, but not the lower lights under the dash and low on the door pillar.

Intermittently, I am also having issues with these reading lights and dome light staying on while engine is running/driving, but there is no indication of the "door ajar" symbol on the dash.

When everyone else has these dome light issues, do you have a door ajar symbol illuminated?

I'm going to try the old WD40 trick tonight, Please respond!

-Michael

[lewisnc100]

This is a post I put on Cartrackers quite a while back, luckily we can still view there even if we can't post anymore. Have you read this TSB concerning 99 Windstars and battery drain?

http://www.cartrackers.com/Forums/li...star/1363.html

[mwedding]

So last night, I went out and checked the current on the mini-van, and tried to trace it down through the fuses under the hood. After all of the dome lights went off and I was convinced the van was in "steady state", the current draw was about 0.720 A.

I started pulling fuses, and found four 40A fuses that each had 120-300 mA draw. Once I removed all 4, the current draw on the battery was only 50mA. This was the first time that I have seen the current draw blow about 350mA, since I have been checking it. (I have previously been trying the fuses inside the passenger compartment, with minimal luck).

The four fuses were labeled as follows in the owner's manual:
SSP1 Relay, SSP1 Relay (coil)
SSP2 Relay, SSP2 Relay (coil)
SSP3 Relay, SSP3 Relay (coil)
SSP4 Relay, SSP4 Relay (coil)


It may be worth noting that this is a 6 cylinder van, and there was no SSP5 or SSP6 listed anywhere in the fuse boxes. Regardless, I am assuming that the circuits should not be energized when the van is parked and turned off. I guess I am assuming that 3 of these are probably ignition coils, and the fourth is some other coil. My first thoughts are that the alarm/remote-starter control module wiring may be suspect.... that somehow when it was installed, someone wired the ignition coils to hot, rather than switched power???? This battery problem has just arisen in the past 6-9 months, and the system was installed before we purchased the van (over a year ago)..... though my wife drove the van to work, and back until 8 months ago, so the van may have never sat for more than 24 hours without being driven. I don't recall being able to trace the start of the problem back to the baby being born, and subsequently Amber staying home....

I have a wiring diagram coming to me that was purchased off of ebay.... I'm a little beyond my knowledge here. What's my next step?

-MW

[12Ounce]

mwedding
You are on the right track, I believe. You will find that all of these "switched power relays" have a constant positive 12v applied to their coils directly from the battery through individual fuses. It's the ground/negative side that is switched to energized the coil. For all these relays (#1, #2, #3, and #4)the negative "source" is circuit #1330(YE/LB) ... which is connected to terminal #21 of the Front Electronic Module (FEM)... and jumps to terminal #4 of the Rear Electronic Module (REM).

I don't understand why these relays exist hooked together in this fashion.... they don't make any sense to me, just all cost power if the negative signal gets "hung up". Probably the original Ford engineer did not intend that they all have a common negative signal....??

If you ever figure it all out, please share with me the logic.

[mwedding]

Any idea as to what could be hanging the ground up? I am assuming that this is something that should be activated on switched power (ignition switch).

What is on these circuits? Or maybe I should ask what controls the rear module.

Thanks,
MWedding

[sunman5]

I have the identical problem on my 99 windstar. I have traced it to the 4 relays you mention, SSPR 1-4. The coils are always powered. terminal #20 on the front electronic module AND terminal #4 on the rear electronic module are providing a ground to all four relays. The other ends of the coils are connected to +12 V.
Does anyone know why these relays are on? They account for about 600 mA worth of battery drain. Currently my battery drain is about 720 mA and every night the battery goes almost dead.

[pwrman]

Originally Posted by lewisnc100

This is a post I put on Cartrackers quite a while back, luckily we can still view there even if we can't post anymore. Have you read this TSB concerning 99 Windstars and battery drain?

http://www.cartrackers.com/Forums/li...star/1363.html

Did this problem affect any of the 2000 Windstars? I am having the identical problem you listed in cartrackers. I am pulling 700ma with everthing turned off. The Alt is good under load at 13.95V, so after reading this I can't help but think this problem might extend into the 2000 models. Can this be done at home?

[lewisnc100]

The TSB covered 1999-2000 models and requires a PCM reprogram by the dealer to correct.

[meditlondon.com]

My 95 Windstar had this problem. Check under the driver's side floor carpet for a corroded connector.
Check out this post. He had the same issue with his 99 and it was also the connector.
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...d.php?t=506869.

[jantonioramirez]

Hello,
Does anybody has the schematic diagram for the windstar 99, I have the same problem with the battery and i wnat to fix it by myself, I already checked under the driver´s seat carpet and I dind´t found a corroded connector.

Please Help Me!!!

[tempfixit]

Do a Google search using word OPLIN, then enter arrc in the search of oplin, then scroll down to where it says omit exact wording ( something to that affect) click on it and scroll down to Auto Repair Reference Center, click on it and choose year and make then look in the wiring diagrams for that vehicle.

Your local library may also have this.

hope this helps

[jantonioramirez]

thank you tempfixit, i tried to get th diagrams, but a couldn´t watch it, when i select one of the diagrams the page goes blank.

[tempfixit]

Originally Posted by jantonioramirez

thank you tempfixit, i tried to get th diagrams, but a couldn´t watch it, when i select one of the diagrams the page goes blank.

Do you have Acrobat reader installed on your computor?? You should be able to download for free. I just tried the site and it worked for me.

[jantonioramirez]

Ford Windstar 99 Drainig Battery,?
My windstar 99 is draining the battery, there are five relays that still activated when the truck is turned off. Two relays are from the Power Distribution Box: 303-SSP1 and 301-SSP2, and the other 3 from the Passenger Compartment Fuse Panel: Relay 1-Switched System Power Relay #4, Relay 3-Front Blower Motor Relay and Relay 4-Switched System Power Relay #3.
PLEASE SOMEBODY HELP ME WITH THIS PROBLEM

[serge_saati]

In my 98, I had a 350mA draw. I removed I/P fuse of interior light, current drops at 50mA.

In your 99, you can also try to turn interior light switch to OFF. Mine doesn't have this switch.

To repair the problem, I suggest you the Haynes repair manual, they have all electric schematic. I repair my problems with it.

If it doesn't work, just disconnect the 60Amp batt fuse when you leave your vehicles. Connect a backup battery in 12V outlet to keep radio preset.
And connect fuse back in morning.