2010 Dodge Journey, battery drain
Asked by Guru95QTT3 Jan 11, 2021 at 01:17 PM about the 2010 Dodge Journey SXT AWD
Question type: Maintenance & Repair
Sept 2020, couldn't start car, put on charge, took to dealer, they replaced
battery, alternator, Was fine till mid Nov 2020, same issue, battery drain,
they replaced terminals and battery harness wiring & tie down for battery,
Was good for 2 weeks, back in shop, put in another new battery, 2 weeks
later back in, same issue, this time was told it was the cluster, was there for 3
weeks, got back Jan 7/21, back today won't start. What is going on?????
4 Answers
lincolnscott49 answered 3 years ago
You need to do a parasitic draw test ....Pull the negative cable off the battery. Put the test light between the negative post and the negative cable just removed. If the light illuminates, you have a draw. Use the fuse pull method to find the draw; when the light goes out, you found the draw in the circuit of the fuse that effects the test light.. Remove the dome light fuse and radio fuse first as these draw power normally. The dome light when the door is open and the radio to keep stations set and clock .
My daughter has a 2010 Dodge Journey SXT and I live in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. We get some really cold nights in January and I have been getting up early before I go to work because my daughter phones me every second morning asking me to come over to her place to boost her vehicle. So I traded her vehicles and I have been checking for a parasitic drain on her battery for the last 2 weeks without any luck until this morning at 5:30 AM to help my wife get ready for work. I went to the front door to remote start my wife's car and noticed the brake lights were activated on the 2010 Dodge Journey SXT so I went outside and yes the battery was dead again. I checked a few websites and this is a known problem with Journeys and the brake switch staying on after turning it off. I would never have noticed it if I would not have gotten up at 5:30 AM with my wife. Thank you honey! Now replacing my brake light switch. I will let you know if that solves it but I am 99.9% sure that is the issue.
lincolnscott49 answered 3 years ago
I am glad you found the problem . However if you had done the draw test correctly and the brake lights were on the 12 volt test light would have been lit telling you something was drawing power. By pulling the brake light fuse the test light would have gone out telling you the problem was in the brake light circuit. If the draw continues after replacing the brake light switch review the draw test directions to find the draw. Be well and stay safe .
SeaunTHCis1 answered 2 years ago
i bought a bigger battery from a tractor supply store and has been working very well!!
