# Parasitic draw help **URL:** \ **Category:** Site Feedback\ **Tags:** ford, taurus\ **Created:** [September 12, 2017, 12:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/parasitic-draw-help/107736 "2017-09-12T12:26:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jaxsonsdaddy13](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@jaxsonsdaddy13](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jaxsonsdaddy13)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 12:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/parasitic-draw-help/107736/1 "2017-09-12T12:26:11Z")
I have a parasitic draw I found it on my headlight fuses anyone know how I can fix this or what’s causing it. ---
**Author:** ![common-sense-answer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/common-sense-answer/32/716_2.png) [@common-sense-answer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/common-sense-answer)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 12:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/parasitic-draw-help/107736/2 "2017-09-12T12:55:48Z")
> [@jaxsonsdaddy13](#): > > I have a parasitic draw I found it on my headlight fuses anyone know how I can fix this or what’s causing it. > > ford taurus  **Model-Year, please?** _ **CSA** _ ---
**Author:** ![jaxsonsdaddy13](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@jaxsonsdaddy13](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jaxsonsdaddy13)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 1:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/parasitic-draw-help/107736/3 "2017-09-12T13:10:47Z")
2002 ford Taurus ---
**Author:** ![BillRussell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/billrussell/32/3179_2.png) [@BillRussell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BillRussell)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 2:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/parasitic-draw-help/107736/4 "2017-09-12T14:04:19Z")
> [@jaxsonsdaddy13](#): > > headlight fuses I don’t think it’s possible for a fuse to have a current drain to ground, unless it has a line of corrosion from the fuse to chassis, very unlikely. Perhaps you mean a drain that goes away when you remove that fuse, which points to the wiring “downstream” from the fuse to the headlights or the headlights themselves or their connectors. Or anything else on that same circuit. More details please. ---
**Author:** ![jaxsonsdaddy13](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@jaxsonsdaddy13](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jaxsonsdaddy13)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 3:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/parasitic-draw-help/107736/5 "2017-09-12T15:12:16Z")
Yes that what I mean now how would one fix that. ---
**Author:** ![TwinTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@TwinTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TwinTurbo)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 3:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/parasitic-draw-help/107736/6 "2017-09-12T15:32:28Z")
How much current are you reading? Under what conditions? ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 3:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/parasitic-draw-help/107736/7 "2017-09-12T15:58:04Z")
Jaxson, you are going to need to be clearer about your problem. You have radio problems and how did you determine you have a parasitic current draw. Do the head lights stay on, does the battery drain and need recharged? ---
**Author:** ![common-sense-answer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/common-sense-answer/32/716_2.png) [@common-sense-answer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/common-sense-answer)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 4:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/parasitic-draw-help/107736/8 "2017-09-12T16:43:51Z")
> [@jaxsonsdaddy13](#): > > I have a parasitic draw I found it on my headlight fuses anyone know how I can fix this or what’s causing it. **Specifically, how old is the car’s battery?** I always like to start at the battery and battery connections when dealing with car electrical problems. _ **CSA** _ ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 4:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/parasitic-draw-help/107736/9 "2017-09-12T16:54:47Z")
This may be caused by that mysterious radio, instrument panel lighting is on the headlight circuit. ---
**Author:** ![BillRussell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/billrussell/32/3179_2.png) [@BillRussell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BillRussell)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 5:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/parasitic-draw-help/107736/10 "2017-09-12T17:20:11Z")
Again, what current are you reading? If you don’t have a number, how do you know this is a parasitic draw? ---
**Author:** ![common-sense-answer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/common-sense-answer/32/716_2.png) [@common-sense-answer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/common-sense-answer)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 8:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/parasitic-draw-help/107736/11 "2017-09-12T20:05:15Z")
> [@BillRussell](#): > > Again, what current are you reading? If you don’t have a number, how do you know this is a parasitic draw? That’s why I asked about the battery/battery connections. Improper draw investigation could be misleading and cause one to chase after red herrings. I’ve seen batteries that will go flat overnight enough not to crank a car, but operate some electrical items and when recharged will actually start the car, only to discharge in short order. Kinda leads one to, _falsely_, believe there must be a new draw. The car doesn’t run on house current, but rather a battery and an onboard charging system. That set-up is the backbone of car’s electric system. _ **CSA** _ ---
**Author:** ![common-sense-answer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/common-sense-answer/32/716_2.png) [@common-sense-answer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/common-sense-answer)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 8:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/parasitic-draw-help/107736/12 "2017-09-12T20:24:49Z")
> [@jaxsonsdaddy13](#): > > I have a parasitic draw I found it on my headlight fuses anyone know how I can fix this or what’s causing it. While checking for a draw on a light fuse do you have a door/doors open? If the doors are closed have you waited for a while for the system to “_go to sleep_.” Chance are very good that if any doors are open or were recently open that you are going to get a false parasitic draw reading. Also, keep in mind that a modern car puts a small draw on the system when it is functioning as designed. _ **CSA** _ ---
**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 10:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/parasitic-draw-help/107736/13 "2017-09-12T22:19:47Z")
Pull the headlight bulbs if the draw goes away, bad bulb or socket!. ---
**Author:** ![jaxsonsdaddy13](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@jaxsonsdaddy13](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jaxsonsdaddy13)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2017, 7:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/parasitic-draw-help/107736/14 "2017-09-18T19:56:34Z")
My draw is come form fuse 16 under the dash I pull that I’m getting a .6 with it in I’m getting a 1.38. ---
**Author:** ![BillRussell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/billrussell/32/3179_2.png) [@BillRussell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BillRussell)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2017, 10:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/parasitic-draw-help/107736/15 "2017-09-18T22:08:27Z")
> [@jaxsonsdaddy13](#): > > .6 with it in I’m getting a 1.38. 0.6 WHAT? 1.38 WHAT? numbers with no units are close to meaningless, unless we guess, and we may guess wrong. If that is amps, and you get that current when you pull the fuse, which is what you seem to say, then that circuit is not the problem. What current do you see before you pull the fuse? BUT, did you wait 30 minutes or so for all the electronics to go into sleep mode before making those measurements? ---
**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:** [September 18, 2017, 11:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/parasitic-draw-help/107736/16 "2017-09-18T23:55:33Z")
If you’re getting 0.6 amps draw with nothing powered up, yes, you do have a problem. Most cars would be under 0.075 amps. One idea, that’s 12 \* 0.6 = 7.2 watts, so whatever’s causing it must be heating up a little. Feel around for something warm, or better yet use one of those infrared temperature gadgets with a laser pointer. Figuring this kind of problem out without any other clues involves inspecting the wiring diagram to discover everything powered up by that circuit, and removing items one by one until the draw ceases. ---
**Author:** ![jaxsonsdaddy13](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@jaxsonsdaddy13](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jaxsonsdaddy13)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2017, 1:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/parasitic-draw-help/107736/17 "2017-09-24T13:17:02Z")
Ok I will post a pic of what I’m doing and the digital multimeter so u all can see the readings. ---
**Author:** ![BillRussell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/billrussell/32/3179_2.png) [@BillRussell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BillRussell)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2017, 6:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/parasitic-draw-help/107736/18 "2017-09-24T18:20:41Z")
A better description of what exactly you are measuring and how, would be better than pictures. ---
**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2017, 6:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/parasitic-draw-help/107736/19 "2017-09-24T18:28:32Z")
My standard respone > **[How To Diagnose a Dead Car Battery](https://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/car-technology/a5859/how-to-stop-car-battery-drains/)** > > Car batteries don’t live forever. Here’s what to do when one meets its maker. ---
**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:** [September 24, 2017, 6:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/parasitic-draw-help/107736/20 "2017-09-24T18:29:55Z")
Aren’t headlights on a circuit breaker?