Date: Tue, 03 Feb 2004 23:28:03 GMT From: Harvey White <madynnopsametcom.com> Subject: Re: Saab 9.5 electrical issues
On Mon, 2 Feb 2004 14:37:06 -0600, "barbjack" <barbjacknopsamam.comcast.net> wrote: >I have a 99 Saab 9.5 wagon with continuing electrical problems. If the car is not driven for 4 or more days , it will not start. So far it has had a new brain, 2 new batteries, new battery cables and lately a new alternator and sparkplugs. The Rear Light Failure message lights up when you turn the key in the ignition, sometimes the car cranks, sometimes it just clicks and will not turn over. Obviously something is draining the system, but the dealer is at a loss to figure out what. Any ideas? Assuming that the battery/alternator combination is good, and the battery is being properly charged, I'd say that something is draining the battery. You might want to check what the normal drain on the battery is with nothing turned on. Some figures I've heard are about 1/2 amp or so. If the rear light failure comes on, I'd measure the voltage at the rear lights without them on, It should be almost the battery voltage. I'd wonder if there is something odd with the rear light driving circuits, but it's hard to say for now. I don't have access to a schematic, but I'd suspect that something is draining the battery to start with. Obviously, I'd start disconnecting things by pulling fuses with the system in power off, if you have an excessive power drain. Remember that the battery *should* support leaving the parking lights on over night, and then allow you to start the car normally, and recharge normally. That's based on the UK/European requirement to leave parking lights on a car that is parked on the street. Not sure what to suggest other than that, for a specific cause. Harvey
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