FFUUU- Battery being drained by Stop Light circuit

[comingbackdown]

A fully-charged battery will tend to measure around 12.7V. 13.5-13.6 actually sounds on the weak side for when the alternator's spinning. Most automotive systems I've dealt with have no problem hitting 14 or more with the engine running.

My gauge sits at about 15-16 at idle, and jumps a tad at high rpm. I'm glad my truck came with one. That is something I think every vehicle should have.

[theholycow]

Hide the wire in a fake nitrous line. Secure the energy drink bottle on the center console and wire in a switch that "ARMS" you brake light circuit. FIL will NOT be disappoint! (is he likely to try it out?)

Win!

Try shifting out of park with the fuse out. If she forgot to take the fuse out and the battery flattened, that would be bad enough. If she forgot to put the fuse IN, you definitely want her to have not being able to shift out of Park as a reminder, since the alternative is driving around with no brake lights and a cruise control that won't disengage with the brake pedal, not to mention that I'm not sure what the ABS system would make of the incorrect input.

Great thinking! I was concerned about her driving around with no brake lights. If it won't shift out of park then that would definitely take care of the problem.

[Rope-Pusher]

^...But what if she doesn't go to the park? What if she's driving in the city?

[theholycow]

Around here, parks are in cities.

[Rope-Pusher]

Around here, parks are in cities.

Our parks that are in cities are small, you typically don't drive in the park, you drive to the park and then park along the perimeter. I bleef that's why they call them "Parks" and not "Drives"

[IMBoring25]

You might also pull the ABS fuse. I was once driving my mom's '95 Town Car and attempted to gently brake to a stop on a dry paved parking lot. The ABS went bonkers and putting the pedal to the floor, the car stopped from about 5 mph in about 40 feet. I'd never connected the two incidents before since I didn't realize the ABS had a brake light switch input, but that was the same car that later crystallized the wire to the brake light switch and exhibited many of the noted symptoms. If the ABS uses the same logic, having an active ABS system would really scare me knowing your short could worsen.

[theholycow]

That's worth a try...probably not it but still worthwhile.