Parasitic Draw - 2004 Ford Explorer Fuse #3 Fix/Workaround (Fix It)

My 2004 Ford Explorer would go dead after a few days of sitting. I diagnosed it down to a parasitic draw on fuse #3 (Radio, Amplifier, DVD). I rewired it using an "add a fuse" to a 12 v source powered by the ignition as opposed to directly from the battery.
Link to ChrisFix video on finding parasitic draw - • How to Find a Short in...
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[@ivo215]

I've had this problem 2 cars ago. It wasn't my radio, I coudn't find what it was. So I resorted to popping the hood every time I parked, and disconecting the battery. And every time I needed to start, I'd pop the hood and re-connect the battery. This draws attention. People will be looking at you. I kept this up for months, going to work, doing groceries. And it didn't always work, sometimes the battery just didn't have enough juice to start the engine. So I started to take the battery out in the evening so it could sit on a charger during the night. And yes, the battery needed to go back in every morning. At one point I had 2 batteries and was swapping them out all the time. One in the car, the other on the charger. And then one day my starter motor died ... just plain dead. I got a 'new' starter from a wrecker, and once I replaced the started motor the electric issue was also fixed. So I guess the starter motor was causing the drain. And that doesn't go through the fusebox.

[@SerenoOunce]

For most vehicles when testing for parasitic draw, if it has factory anti-theft then you must LOCK it before testing. Otherwise the security module may stay awake for 1/2 - 1 hr before you can begin testing. Manually engage the door latches so the system can arm itself and keep the doors open/windows down.

[@dotteduelist07]

A very interesting problem you had. I love these types of videos.

[@scottmitchellweb]

That's a pretty neat little fix, nice video. You should definitely do more like this

[@ugsisr]

I have a 2005 Explorer and my battery would drain if sitting in two weeks, in a garage. My problem was an after market auto start that was installed incorrectly

[@PilotPlater]

great video. Easy fix when it's not worth diagnosing the radio that doesn't need to be powered anyway, but also not sketchy like a lot of homebrew fixes.

[@jacobhales9661]

I needed this so much

[@TVCColin]

Ha! I am a mechanic and had the same issue in a 2002 Ford F-150. Ended up having to replace the radio for a nice new junkyard one. We see a lot of fords with draws from the GEM module.

[@_TheDinoMaster]

Very nice, please continue!

[@crossbowsniper]

So didn't have this issue, but needed a constant hot fuse to use an add-a-fuse setup for wiring in my dash cam. This worked perfectly as my #3 fuse was hot (2003 explorer myself). Made the wiring faster and simpler. Thanks for the great video.

[@JSano19]

Glad to have helped, even though it wasn't for the same exact thing, the concept, as you know, can be used for a few different purposes. Just make sure your dashcam doesn't drain your battery and has some type of shutoff feature.

[@fraydnot]

I have a draw on my 02 I just picked up, going through fixing stuff, this will help. I have the same interior as you. Don't know if you already know this, but if the foam on your drivers seat is falling apart you can go to a junk yard and take the foam off another explorer and replace it. The passenger seat and driver seat cushions are interchangeable. I took one off of a explorer with leather seats. Thanks for the upload

[@DaveStovicek]

WOW! Car mechanic simulator has some incredible VR!

[@heatherthrailkill6780]

Thank you so much. You saved me alot of stress.

[@knucklesdamone916]

This should be changed to work around also have you thought about switching out the radio maybe it's a problem with that or it wasn't installed properly maybe it's not grounded properly

[@SerenoOunce]

Problem with budget aftermarket radios is they can have a high parasitic draw for the keep alive memory. A decent unit should be >5mA but I've see some cheap knockoffs draw 15-20mA. Always want to bench test this before installing a replacement head unit.

[@hoomalimali6334]

Terrific! Thanks & stay safe ~ Paul.

[@danmcelroy6584]

Thanks! It just may be my problem after a few days being parked! ✌️

[@elrompetrasero]

i have a similar problem in my 02 sport trac , after reemplace some fuses in my side panel , my radio who dont have that problem before , now still on after i remove the key , i check the wires with the multimeter and now i don't have a switch on/off wire i just have two 12v wires , if i cant find the problem im going to do this becouse this thing is make me crazy, thankyou for your help

[@DutchMJyt]

That scar looks good, healing nicely. ;) Look at you fixing your car, fixing your face, fixing stuff

[@bvtelecom]

Fantastic! Mystery solved. Thank you! (even the same color and year :-D )

[@NotAlwaysBilly]

Do you know which fuse is connected to the sun visors?

[@kuipslegrand245]

Thanks a lot great advice.

[@jo05dk]

It's been a while since you talked about doing a sort of iFixit series. I think it's a great idea. Will def. give such a series a chance :)

[@bentonrodeheaver2596]

I don't know if this is my problem yet but the rear wiper quit the other day so that raised suspicion about it. I'll have to check that fuse too. Thanks for the info.

[@MuscleCarMike]

What was it?

[@ManicDabber]

I have a 2007 explorer and had the same problem but pulled the fuse for the amp that powered the amplifier...

[@jsacsg1831]

Can you post a link or pic of the crimp connector you used? I’m going to try it out but cannot find it on a google search.

[@rad_dadj556]

Thanks for the vid! Question… would swapping the radio out fix this or is the actual issue with the fuse panel? Thanks in advance

[@gilaxman9530]

Pretty cool.

[@nogarage4473]

I've got an 06' That is having a Parasitic Draw. Radio Display doesn't work but Radio does. I am starting to wonder if the radio's themselves up to 06 are a problem . . . .

[@fuzzmaster4157]

I just bought an 06 a couple of months ago and just started having this issue. Hoping it is just the radio

[@bp3kk498]

Does this apply to 2006 explorer? My sister is having a similar issue.

[@joemoskowitz7427]

Nice fix! Sucks that you won't be able to save radio presets, but at least the truck'll start when you need it!

[@DutchMJyt]

That answered my question if you lose radio presets with this fix. I guess it's a small price to pay.

[@jimwambolt6404]

Bingo....thank you you were right. I just went to the #3 radio fuse and added 2 wires those wires went threw a fuse and to a toggel switch so I just kill it when parked. And flip it on when I use the car so I have my radio. Thanks again!

[@BernardBethea6339]

If your radio is killing the battery because of current drain fron it's clock and presets something is wrong with the radio or its wired wrong

[@MyJeff1969]

this wont help me, mine is fuse 8 causing the drain under the dash, and fuse 3 50 amo under the hood causing the drain, anybody else have the same problem?

[@boeie2006]

Have you checked the wires of the radio? The radio has a signal wire and a 12v wire. If these wires were switched you got the same problem. If you plug them in the right way you have memory on your radio every time you turn on your radio. PS. Love the video

[@JSano19]

I didn't delve into the wires on the radio, but I am sure the problem lied somewhere in there. The radio worked fine for years (i installed the aftermarket radio probably over 10 years ago now) and didn't have this problem come up until the last year, so I'm sure something got pinched or something like that over time. Since it's a spare vehicle, this was the quicker and easier guaranteed fix as opposed to really going hard core on the radio itself.

[@aaronosentoski8113]

Wow this literally just solved to problem I had

[@SquillyMon]

If that is the issue and your only problem now is to find a foolproof way of enabling and disabling that circuit so it wont drain the battery... just wire up a relay to connect and disconnect that fuse. Pretty easy if you feel that circuit that is the only problem left to solve. The relay wiring would take less than 10 min

[@josephkober3734]

So now I guess you lose all your radios saved channels and time every time you turn the car ignition off ??

[@dantecardenas5082]

I have a parasitic draw on a 02 explorer would that possibly be the same problem

[@JSano19]

I mean, could definitely be. Check for draw with the multimeter like I did, or if you don't have one, remove the radio fuse and see if the next morning the car still turns on (or however long it normally takes for you to notice a parasitic draw issue)

[@keving2371]

Wouldnt have been easier to replace the 29 dollar cheap radio ?

[@Nazeus]

can you play more FTL?

[@virginiosantiago3329]

Gas gauge

[@heathervaughn4322]

Good Video However too much Rambling.