# 2000 Ford F-150 - Amp drain **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** electrical-wiring, ford\ **Created:** [May 8, 2024, 2:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2000-ford-f-150-amp-drain/194868 "2024-05-08T14:12:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![pokey123](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@pokey123](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pokey123)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2024, 2:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2000-ford-f-150-amp-drain/194868/1 "2024-05-08T14:12:44Z")
What would cause a 9.28amp drain on a parked truck…50,750 original miles. Wnet thru most all 20-15-10-5 amp fuses.Did not locate drain. ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2024, 2:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2000-ford-f-150-amp-drain/194868/2 "2024-05-08T14:40:04Z")
> [@pokey123](#): > > Wnet thru most all 20-15-10-5 amp fuses.Did not locate drain. Why only most?? Why would a 30, 60 whatever amp fuse not have a current draw?? I always tell anyone to check EVERY fuse, also check relays and any circuit you can interrupt fairly easy at 1st… Just have to put in the work to find it… Or take it to a competent shop or automotive electrical shop… ---
**Author:** ![pokey123](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@pokey123](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pokey123)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2024, 2:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2000-ford-f-150-amp-drain/194868/3 "2024-05-08T14:56:23Z")
Thanks,guess I quit to soon🤣 ---
**Author:** ![weekend-warrior](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/weekend-warrior/32/26122_2.png) [@weekend-warrior](https://community.cartalk.com/u/weekend-warrior)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2024, 9:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2000-ford-f-150-amp-drain/194868/4 "2024-05-08T21:01:11Z")
there are diodes in the alternator. if one of them goes bad, it will cause a parasitic drain and kill the battery. it will also cause heat so with the engine off and cold, if the alternator is warm there is a bad diode in it causing your drain. also check to see if your brake lights are staying on. a defective brake light switch will cause that. sometimes it will happen intermittently . [The BEST Way TO Perform a Parasitic Draw Test (youtube.com)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRcj1fQcWwU) ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2024, 9:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2000-ford-f-150-amp-drain/194868/5 "2024-05-08T21:13:15Z")
For a battery drain that big, and no lights on anywhere inside the car or outside, my 1st guess is the same as WW’s above, alternator fault. Second guess , starter motor fault. The fuses in those two circuits are generally “fusible links” & often have larger current ratings than the fuses you’ve been checking. Some caution is in order w/this problem b/c the heat generated (roughly 120 watts) could potentially start a car fire. ---
**Author:** ![GorehamJ](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/gorehamj/32/24103_2.png) [@GorehamJ](https://community.cartalk.com/u/GorehamJ)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2024, 11:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2000-ford-f-150-amp-drain/194868/6 "2024-05-08T23:04:48Z")
I’m no expert on this problem, but that seems like a big drain. And so maybe an easier one to find. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2024, 12:26am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2000-ford-f-150-amp-drain/194868/7 "2024-05-09T00:26:40Z")
> [@pokey123](#): > > What would cause a 9.28amp drain That is ENORMOUS Are you sure you didn’t make a typo? Are you sure it isn’t a 95 milliamp drain or a 950 milliamp drain . . . ? ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2024, 12:59am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2000-ford-f-150-amp-drain/194868/8 "2024-05-09T00:59:18Z")
The two drains I had were intermittent. All of a sudden the test light went bright white. Short in the lever controller. The other one went out to the garage one night and the interior lights were on. Short at the handle that turned the lights on. Just luck. Or bad battery.