93' Ford Explorer 8 Amp leakage...?

[RazRbladeKisses]

A week ago went to start it up and it wouldn't start. The battery was completely dead. Charged the battery overnight and went over to Battery Warehouse. They checked the battery and said it was still holding a charge, but there's 8 AMPS draining somewhere else...causing the battery to go dead. They recommended to disconnect the negative cable when SUV in not in use, so the battery doesn't go dead again.

We've been doing this and battery has lasted. I've talked on the phone with my mechanic and described problem and he thinks it could be ABS or the radio.

The radio and A/C also don't work. When we bought the SUV, they both worked.

Yes the radio is on top of A/C and heating controls

Already did a fuse test. Checked the alternator. They are also good.

 

[Old guy_64...]

look for a glove box light staying on, or maybe a cargo area light, as it's a very low draw

 

[Old guy_64...]

look for a glove box light staying on, or maybe a cargo area light, as it's a very low draw

 

[thebax2006]

8 amps is a lot of draw. If it was a short you would see smoke. One of the only things I can think of that can draw that much with out showing is the rear window defogger. I had a Toyota that had a defogger relay stick because of carbon arcing on the relay contacts. You might try pulling the wire off the rear grid and test for draw at the battery. 8 amps will make a large spark at the battery post when touching a cable clamp to it. See if the spark changes with the defogger wire disconnected if you don't have an amp gauge.
An alternator with 1 bad diode will still charge enough to keep the battery charge warning light out. I would check the voltage at the battery with the car off it should be 12 to 12.7 volts. Start the motor and you should have more than 13.7 volts or more. If you can't decide that way, try disconnecting the large B+ wire that runs to the alternator and see if the battery goes dead overnight.