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EX dash gauge for battery issue


tjs4x4

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I've had this problem for quite some time now. I thought I had it figured out when I realized my wiring harness for the left side of the cluster was backwards, but its not the entire case.

Every time I push the power window switches, it does not matter which one, the battery gauge goes up and down, indicating to mean a drain.

Took it to Oreilly's and the guy said the alternator and regulator are working fine, but that something is draining the battery, and THAT is why my HEADLIGHTS and all other lights dim when I hit the power window switches.

NOW, I have to know WHY this is happening. Has anyone had this happen to them? I replaced the driver's main PW switch thinking that was it, but its not. It's happening to all 4 switches. Any ideas where I can look for the problem?
 


tjs4x4

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Anyone????!!!!
 

Shran

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I'd get a wiring diagram and find where the ground(s) are at for the power windows. Clean those up and see if that helps.
 

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Def sounds like a ground issue to me as well. My 91 does that a bit to, but only if you hold the power window switch in the up position when the window is already up....but not enough that it is really noticeable.
 

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How much does the gauge move?Its normal for it to move some.I have four explores and all of them do it.The gauge moves a little everytime you roll the window up or down.Power window motors draw quite a lot of power.
 

tjs4x4

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It only does it a little, just worries me, but the fact that my HEADLIGHTS and all my lights DIM when I do this has me concerned, and the fact that the Oreilly's guy who tested my battery said there's a draw somewhere on it. The alternator tested fine, the regulator tested fine...but the battery is not. And that's my 3rd battery.


I SUCK at wiring diagrams. If anyone has one and can explain it to me, I'd be greatly appreciative.
 

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Is it constant when moving the windows or just when it gets all the way up or down? My lights dim when the window is at the extreme point of up or down.
 

tjs4x4

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It only happens when I use the power windows...
 

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So the whole time you are pushing the button the lights dim? Okay, hmm clean grounds. Is the alternator putting out to it's full capacity?
 

Shran

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I SUCK at wiring diagrams. If anyone has one and can explain it to me, I'd be greatly appreciative.
Find your power window switches in a wiring diagram for your vehicle. Haynes or Chilton might contain one. Next:

You are looking for this symbol...



This indicates a ground. Follow the line it is attached to until you find one or two letters next to it, these indicate the color of the wire. There should be a wire color code somewhere in the diagram too that explains what abbreviation is for certain colors. Now just find that wire in your vehicle and trace it back to where it is grounded at.

Sorry for the gigantic pic.
 

4.0B2

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I still say it's a ground issue to. Clean every ground. Not only the ones by the switches.
 

tjs4x4

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Yes it happens the whole time I'm pressing the buttons.
 

adsm08

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Well if you have a draw, you need to find that.

Hook up an amp meter to the positive cable, and the positive terminal with the cable unhooked, wait 20 minutes, then start pulling fuses until the draw drops off.
 

84bluebronco2

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My 94 Explorer's battery gauge moves when I use my power windows, but immediately spikes back up when I stop. Never seems to hurt anything for me. Just keep an eye on it Mach, and clean up the grounds.
 

Shran

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FWIW, I have two 500w amps in my F150 as well as a 10" sub... if I turn the volume up fairly high my battery gauge goes nuts. I wouldn't worry about this a whole lot.
 

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