Got stranded at Wally World

[Slow Left]

There are several components behind the Cig fuse:
Cigarette Lighter
Power Antennae
Radio
Digital Clock

The strange thing is that the Digital Clock circuit is somehow connected to the Dome light circuit...as I read the wiring diagram.

Also, I think that folks who install aftermarket car alarms often do so connecting through the Radio circuit somehow.

...trying to think how to approach this...

 

[WhompinFJ]

I'm gonna grab some dinner I'll take those pics in a little

 

[Slow Left]

Dome Light Circuit:

 

[Slow Left]

Cig Circuit:

 

[Slow Left]

Neither the Dome Light (line B) nor Cig (line C) circuit does NOT through the Ignition switch...which means it is a prime suspect for current leaks even with the Engine OFF/Key OUT (since it sees 12V positive even with the Engine OFF/Key OUT)...

The Cig (line C) circuit passes through the Ignition Switch, so there should be no current flowing the any circuits behind the Cig fuse with the Engine OFF/Key OUT unless:
there is a short in the Ignition Switch
or there is current leaking from a device on the Cig circuits with a 12V unswitched 'hot' lead.

 

[jawjatek]

Still going with botched non-factory radio wiring myself. Wait that was a different thread... never mind. Carry on, you're getting closer.

 

[WhompinFJ]

Dome fuse out

 

[Slow Left]

Still going with botched non-factory radio wiring myself. Wait that was a different thread... never mind. Carry on, you're getting closer.

Ha, Ha! Yeah, feel free to jump in here and get to work...this one's a doozy...

 

[Slow Left]

Nick, how long have you had this FJ62 and has this symptom of 'parastic draw' always been there since you owned it and did the vehicle already have the aftermarket stereo and car alarm installed when you purchased it?

 

[WhompinFJ]

Everything is stock, and I had the car for a week and the battery died. Seems to be getting worse though, I think the battery may have gone dead too many times.

 

[Slow Left]

It has a stock stereo?

Does it have a car alarm?

When did you buy the vehicle (how long ago)?

 

[WhompinFJ]

Everything is stock, no alarm, no radio, the PO just did maintenance. I bought the car the day after thanksgiving in 2014, and the battery has died numerous times since I have owned it.

 

[Slow Left]

Huh. For some reason I thought there was an alarm mentioned in this thread...OK.

So the battery was only 1 year old and it was already draining through some parasitic leak.

What we are looking for here is a 'short' to ground. Meaning, somehow, behind both the Dome and Cig fuses, there is a path for current to flow to ground that is shorter than the path shown on the diagram.

The bigger of the two drains is coming from the Dome fuse circuit. There are several components behind this Dome fuse:
Dome Light in the passenger area
Rear Cargo Light
Map Light (not sure what this is, but sounds like some sort of light near the rear view mirror dealio)

On the Dome Light in the passenger area, there is a switch at the light and then 4 switches (1 at each of the doors).
The light turns on when any one of these 5 switches closes, thereby creating a path to ground.

 

[Slow Left]

Well, I'm gonna have to think about this one. I'll check in again tomorrow and post up any suggestions I have and see if MUD has got any additional ideas...

Good news is that you've narrowed down the problem and are earning your bones in electrical trouble shooting...so you've gotta give yourself props for that...

 

[WhompinFJ]

Thanks man, sorry I took a bit to get back. I pulled both dome light bulbs and the reading is

 

[Output Shaft]

Remove the actual wires from both dome switches. Then check again.

 

[2mbb]

Supply wire C does get power from the ignition switch, as can be seen in the image in post 125. With my FJ60, neither the cigarette lighter nor the radio work without the ignition switch turned at least to the ACC position.

I'm not sure what the service connector is that is shown on the diagram below and to the left of the ignition switch.

If your cigarette lighter is powered when the key is turned off, then this does suggest a potential problem...

The only thing that should be drawing current with the key OFF, and all the courtesy lights OFF is the clock (not the display, but just to keep the clock time running). Aftermarket radios generally also get an always "hot" lead for either an internal clock or preset memory and perhaps activating a power antenna.

The wiring diagram for courtesy lights shows the front and rear dome lights as well as a "map" light. I'm not certain, but I think that lamp is inside the glove box.

Neither the Dome Light (line B) nor Cig (line C) circuit pass through the Ignition switch...which means they are prime suspects for current leaks even with the Engine OFF/Key OUT...

View attachment 1104719

 

[Slow Left]

Supply wire C does get power from the ignition switch, as can be seen in the image in post 125. With my FJ60, neither the cigarette lighter nor the radio work without the ignition switch turned at least to the ACC position.

Yes, you are right! Thanks for catching that, 2mbb. I mistakenly followed the supply line C through the Service Box instead of through the Ignition Switch...it should be read as going through the Ignition Switch.

I don't know what the Service Box does/is, but I don't think it is a source of this current leak...because it is behind neither the Dome nor the Cig fuse. The current leaks drop off when those two fuses are removed, so the short to ground must be behind those fuses.

If there is an additional current leak in front of the fuses in the fuse box, this technique we are doing here won't alert us to it. But, I think, since these two leaks (or one single one) are large enough to be causing the symptoms.

I say it could be a single leak, because the Dome and Cig circuits seem to be connected (behind the fuses) through the Digital Clock. I'm wondering if the short is able to pull current through the Dome fuse most easily....and then when we remove the Dome fuse...it can still pull through the Cig fuse via the Digital Clock....EDIT: maybe not...because there would also have to be either a short at the Ignition Switch OR a short in this Service Box for it to see 12 V through the Cig fuse...

...at least that is kind of what I'm thinking...

 

[Slow Left]

Remove the actual wires from both dome switches. Then check again.

I'm with you on this line of thinking...but I'm wondering if there is an easier way to test all the Dome switches...

 

[Slow Left]

no radio,

So, just to confirm, there is no radio installed in the vehicle? Not even the stock radio?

If there is no stock radio installed, do you see signs that there once was a stock radio installed that has been removed?

Anyone know if the stock radio was a customer option or did all USA FJ62 models come with a stock radio?