serious electrical problem

[journeyman17]

i have an 01 250 super duty cc lariat. i have two newer 1000 cold cranking amp interstates in it. if i let that bitch sit for 3 days they are dead. i thought it was the edge evelution programmer but i sent it in they sent me a new one. i have a code saying (kam) malfunction, and power interuption on kapwr circuit. talked to the dealers they say those codes could me anything. i've worked on her for a couple nights now and am stumped, need help. and i have already been through the starter and most every easy bolt on part

 

[JLDickmon]

KAPWR = Keep Alive PoWeR

its being set because the batteries are going dead..

got a voltmeter?

hook it up to check for parasitic draw, then disconnect the alternator.

I think you'll find it.

 

[BIG JOE]

KAPWR = Keep Alive PoWeR

its being set because the batteries are going dead..

got a voltmeter?

hook it up to check for parasitic draw, then disconnect the alternator.

I think you'll find it.

Ditto. Alernator (diodes)... I'd betcha.

 

[Tail_Gunner]

KAPWR = Keep Alive PoWeR
hook it up to check for parasitic draw, then disconnect the alternator.

I think you'll find it.

X2

You might have a bad diode in the alternator allowing the batteries to drain & go flat.

Another thing to check, is the glow plug solenoid stuck in the closed position? Again running the batteries down?

 

[journeyman17]

thanks for the input,, as far as the the alternator diod goes, i just had the alternator rebuilt in june, it had a bad diod but seems good now i will definatly have it gone through again though. and the glow plug relay i went to take it off to check for draw and broke the whole top off last night, so today i put new one on. there is no constant draw there, only when the glow plugs call for power. today i also took both my freshly charged batteries in and they checked out to be kinda week so i just put two brand new ones in about 20 min. ago. i will let her sit over night, check voltage in morning and see how she starts. As far as the parasitic draw is concerned i don't really know what that is however i would like too. the test i did do is i disconnected both batteries and hooked a test light to the positive cable and to the positive terminal on battery and the light was glowing very bright.. closed the hood down so the hood light would stop calling for power and the test light dimmed down some for sure but still was glowing pretty good, seems like some good draw. thats where i'm at so far any ideas are much appreciated guys,, hopefully she is good to go with new batts, but i have doubts and would like to do more checkin

 

[JLDickmon]

you're on the right track, except you'd test with a voltmeter instead of a test light..

 

[sikodiesel]

A parasitic draw is an unwarrented power draw from the batteies when the truck is shut off. If you have a multi meter i would hook it up yo one of the batteries. keep the key off and start pulling fuses one at a time. when you see the reading change on the meter thats the fuse/circuit thats the concern

 

[bigrigr]

x2 sikodiesel, it can be done with the test light also, just watch for the light to go out, or get noticeably dimmer. Sometimes the volt meter will be confusing, b ecause it will show a small draw even when everthing is ok, because of the clock n memory in the stereo, ecm ,ect. pull the fuses and leave them out till u find the one that turns out the light, then put the rest back in. If the light stays out, you found the problem circuit. Good luck

 

[Dogman]

Was any of the batts. looking wet on top? If so Something I found out at a battery plant is that the very first sign that you are starting to have a batt. discharge. That will pull down the other batt.. It could take weeks or months to do it enough to become a problem.