Date:         Sun, 19 Oct 2008 20:24:28 -0700
Reply-To:     Luke Bakken <luke.bakken@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Luke Bakken <luke.bakken@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: The drama continues -> Both low beams burnt out at same time?
Comments: To: David Beierl <dbeierl@attglobal.net>
In-Reply-To:  <20081019205911.NEIH23768.eastrmmtao105.cox.net@eastrmimpo03.cox.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

>> I pulled the fuses one at a time to see what circuit the problem may
>> be on, but no luck. Being a Vanagon newbie, I'm not really familiar
>
> How much drain are you seeing?

It's weird - if I have my multimeter set to the 10A range, it appears
to be hovering around 100mA, but if I move the multimeter to the 500mA
range, it's pegged. Grr - either I'm reading the tester wrong
(entirely possible) or the tester has an issue. If I put a 12V test
light in series between the negative cable and negative post it does
light up, although dimly. In addition, I hear a whirring motor sound
from up by the dash for about 2 seconds when I restore power (and I
see the resulting current draw), but it shuts itself off. What is
that?

What amperage or multi tester do list members here recommend?

From my reading online last night, the next step is to get a reliable
mA reading and start pulling fuses and relays until the current draw
goes down. Failing that, it appears that things like the power door
locks, stereo, LED clock, alternate battery system (I don't have a 2nd
battery, but it appears that in addition to the stock positive cable
on my battery there are the two red/white wires as well) or alternator
could be causing this ... or something else, like a barely-shorted
wire somewhere.

One other thing that I have noticed with this van is that the
open-door chime doesn't *always* come on when the driver's side door
is opened. And, sometimes when it is on and I hoist myself up using
the steering wheel, it stops chiming.

To make this all even more interesting, the van has the Smallcar
Subaru conversion as well and I'm really hoping this isn't related to
that. Good times!

Thanks,
Luke