Saturn Parasitic Load Test Device

Parasitic Load Tool:

PARASITIC LOAD TESTING
Small current drains, called "parasitic drains," constantly draw current from the battery even with the ignition switch in the OFF position. These parasitic drains can discharge a battery in 4-6 weeks depending on the battery's state of charge and when the vehicle went into storage.

Normal parasitic current drain for the Saturn vehicle is between 6-10 milliamps. Remember, when checking for parasitic current draw take a look to see what types of equipment the customer may have had installed on the vehicle. A cellular phone, anti-theft system, or any device added that requires constant voltage to retain a memory will draw current at all times. So take these added accessories into account when testing for parasitic current drain.

SATURN PARASITIC LOAD TEST DEVICE
The parasitic load test device (SA9130Z) is used with a digital multimeter. The test device is used to measure parasitic current drain from the battery with the ignition and all accessories off. The load tester, constructed with one ohm resistance and a built-in circuit protection device, opens when the current exceeds approximately one amp. When the circuit is opened, the user is alerted by a red LED indicator. The parasitic load test device is put into the circuit between the negative battery terminal and the negative battery cable so it effectively becomes a load in series with all other vehicle loads.

NOTE:
^ The alligator clamp on the parasitic load test device must be connected to the flat pad part on the negative battery cable. Do not connect the alligator clamp to the bolt on the negative battery cable, this will cause incorrect readings.
^ The ignition key must be removed from the cylinder before load testing. The key minder circuit, activated by the key cylinder switch when the key is in the ignition cylinder, adds 20 milliamps of current draw.

Tester Connections:

Test Connections With DVOM:

1. Turn the ignition and all accessories off.
2. Disconnect the cable from the negative battery terminal.
3. Sedan:
Install the parasitic load tester between the negative cable and the negative battery terminal so that the one ohm resistor is in series with the other resistances.
Coupe:
Install the parasitic load tester between the negative cable and the negative battery terminal. This causes the headlamp door relays to turn on and off (you will hear a clicking at the module). To stop this, hold the battery lead, with the test device connected, to the battery terminal for more than 10 seconds. This shorts around the parasitic load tester and allow the headlamp door module to complete its cycle. After 10 seconds, the current can be measured as previously explained.

NOTE:
^ The alligator clamp on the parasitic load test device must be connected to the flat pad part on the negative battery cable. Do not connect the alligator clamp to the bolt on the negative battery cable; this will cause incorrect readings.
^ The ignition key must be removed from the cylinder before load testing. The key minder circuit, activated by the key cylinder switch when the key is in the ignition cylinder, adds 20 milliamps of current draw.
^ Step 3b must be performed on the Coupe before attempting to measure the parasitic current draw from the battery.

4. Set the multimeter to the MILLIVOLT scale.

5. Measure the current across the tester by putting the multimeter probes on two terminals on the end of the tester. The reading obtained is in volts. This reading is directly converted to milliamps. Should the parasitic current draw exceed one amp, the LED indicator on the test device will light. This may indicate that a vehicle accessory is on.

6. To find the source of the excessive load, start removing the fuses in a systematic way. When the voltage drops across the tester, the circuit or circuits protected by that fuse is the source of the current drain. Repair the circuit and perform the parasitic load test again to verify the repair.