# 2003 Ford Explorer - Battery drain **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** ford\ **Created:** [December 15, 2018, 2:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-ford-explorer-battery-drain/130887 "2018-12-15T14:33:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Karen37](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dec6dc/32.png) [@Karen37](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Karen37)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2018, 2:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-ford-explorer-battery-drain/130887/1 "2018-12-15T14:33:39Z")
Battery replaced, alternator replaced, battery drained I;4 days of sitting in Parking Lot. Car has 85,000. Miles, always serviced by dealer ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2018, 2:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-ford-explorer-battery-drain/130887/2 "2018-12-15T14:51:38Z")
Parasitic power drain from SOMEthing in the SUV after the key is turned off. Usually aftermarket stereos, alarms or remote starters. Any competent mechanic can run a parasitic draw test to find the offending item. ---
**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:** [December 15, 2018, 5:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-ford-explorer-battery-drain/130887/3 "2018-12-15T17:32:44Z")
With the emphasis on competent I’ve had many colleagues tell me 500 milliamps of parasitic draw is acceptable Not so 50 milliamps or less is acceptable ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2018, 5:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-ford-explorer-battery-drain/130887/4 "2018-12-15T17:41:57Z")
> [@db4690](#): > > 500 milliamps of parasitic draw is acceptable Holy moley! 1/2 an amp will drain a 70 amp-hour battery to the point it won’t start a car in about 48 hours or less! ---
**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:** [December 15, 2018, 5:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-ford-explorer-battery-drain/130887/5 "2018-12-15T17:43:26Z")
Yeah, when that guy . . . who’s been turning wrenches for 25 years or so . . . told me that, I just shook my head and walked away ☹