1997 Chrysler Sebring JXI convertible power/battery drain

Sadly, I don't have a clamp on ammeter or an adapter that would allow me to use my DMM with a clamp on adapter. So, in this video I discuss the processes I undertook to find what was draining my car battery every couple of days.

[@trainman1209]

You said the DMM will "click". I think you meant the RELAY will click when you remove that front seat belt fuse, in the Power Distribution Center...under the hood. My 1997 Chrysler Sebring had the back window smashed out. So the car flooded in the rain...like 8" deep. I used an umbrella with bungee cords during the rainy days. On sunny days, I would drive it. The seat belts are a prime suspect. When you pull out the sear belt fuse under the hood, you said: "your DMM will click"...no. Your RELAY will click. I wish more You Tube broadcasters would write a script. Practice 3-5 videos, before you "send" it out to us. Now I have to go back and watch your video again, to figure out what to do with that "bracket" you hooked onto that negative terminal. I understood it makes it easy to get alligator clips to bite onto it. But I still don't understand what to do with that thing. I can make one, once the nuts & bolts in my tiny little pinhead sort themselves out. Everybody in Television has a script...otherwise, we get anxious, and hope we went over that important part of the training video. I have selected "all videos" from you...not just occasional ones. You've done a great job, here. Good luck, read your Bible.

[@Theoriginalmalcontentcorner]

Steven, the bracket allowed me to hook my DMM in parallel with the ground lead so that I could take the negative lead off the post but not kill the power to the car. Why? Because the Belt module was intermittent. Sometimes, it worked properly, and the car would pull 15ma. Other times, it was misbehaving to the tune of it pulling over an amp (1.2 if memory serves me correctly) for HOURS and thereby killing the battery in about 2 days. Breaking the circuit would allow that module to 'reset' and work as it should...for a spell. So, I had to find a way to easily hook my meter up and not break the circuit. Hence the bracket. Now, unlike you, I had no reason to suspect said module. My car hasn't flooded. However, unlike you, I had nothing to go on other than the usual b.s. trash that the internet had offered up such as "check your dome light, check your trunk light". So, with that being said you don't have to watch the video any further for you have the cliff note version at hand.
As for your wishes- This is the 2nd week in a row where you've complained, commented and otherwise pointed out my gaffs yet your questions show me that you didn't watch the complete video. Now you don't need to watch as I told you all I did but remember something- this sh*t is free and this isn't a professional production. I don't have a crew nor the time to 'write a script' and practice with 3 to 5 videos. This is a one-man operation of a busy guy. Animals, wife, life, they all take their time. If I got paid, I'd LOVE to do T.V. worthy shows but I don't and YT is free. So, I try my best. If you think you can do better, than by all means please do. Your channel shows you've posted nothing other than comments (nothing like the luxury of criticism, eh?) so it may be an eye-opening experience for you to film, edit and post content. That being said, if you don't like something I said, or my delivery makes you "anxious" then just move on. Hate the sound of my voice? Move on. I said X instead of Y, move on...especially when it involves a video I made 2 years ago! Think you can do better? Please do. Let's see your results. However, until I get paid for this to where I can get script writers, a teleprompter, editing crew, etc., you get what you get with warts and all and sadly I am an incredibly flawed human.

[@trainman1209]

​@@TheoriginalmalcontentcornerSorry I insulted your work, John. I need to watch these videos much more before I comment. Actually, you're doing a really great job! I'm sure you already know the permitted current draw is 50ma. All these Chrysler Convertibles had a lot of parasitic current draw. They had certain fuses pulled when these cars arrived at the Dealerships. Because fuse #5 & some others would drain the battery before 30 days. So...if a customer wanted to test-drive a Sebring Convertible, they would have a guy put the fuse #5 & whatever others back in. So it would start. I doubt Chrysler told their customers about the parasitic draw problems. Please forgive my ignorant, low-life trashy opinion.

[@Theoriginalmalcontentcorner]

@@trainman1209 : No worries, it is all good. I know there will be some parasitic draw. Main issue was that the module would go bad,, I'd disco the batt to measure the amperage and dang if it all didn't 'work and look' like it should because said module reset and worked like it should. Typical intermittent issue that is a PITA to find and fix but all is good now.