Dead battery - Is the alternator bad?

[Ian c]

Originally Posted by 3point2

I pulled each fuse and all the readings are at 1.70 amps. No big fluctuations anywhere.

Is that ampere normal?

No it is not .
1.7 mA is normal .
Are you sure you're reading it right ?

If the meter you're using now is the same as the one you posted a pic of earlier , what are you set to in the dca range ?

[Ian c]

It looks like we missed each other again while I was out today , and you're offline now just as I'm getting ready to watch a movie


Here's a few more quick tests if you're still working on it .
With your meter in the same position , click over to Vdc ... What are you reading volts?
You need to clarify that your drain is 1.7 mA ...
Next do the same check on the alternator connection BATT . What are you reading mA?
(Be carefull not to touch this wire to anything !! The best way is to disconnect the battery then remove and secure the wire with the test leads fitted , then reconnect the battery. )
While you're in this area , a alternator drain can be checked at the same time (preferably with assistance so nothing shorts) . Does the battery mA reading drop when the alternator is disconnected ?
Next reconnect everything and go from the alternator BATT , to ground and set to ac volts . With the engine running and lights on , What are you reading ~voltsAC ?
Now you need to do your first test again
Across the battery with the car running with lights on for a few minutes , what are you reading Vdc ?
What are you reading immediately after turning the car off ?
Turn the lights on for a few minutes , then take a reading again .
Finally , if you can , disconnect the battery completely and take a reading after around 30-60 minutes . Then again in the morning .

[3point2]

Woah, lots of instructions there! Haha jk. Thanks for the help Ian! I'll have to perform this test another day. I went ahead and reconnected the battery again and am going to try and replicate the problem.

For the 1.7mA readings, I had the meter set at DC10A and I'm assuming it was reading in Amperes and not mAmperes. It was readying 1.7A or less when pulling each fuse. When I opened the door and the door lights came on, the reading would be at 3.3A.

I'm using a different meter than what was pictured in this thread earlier. I'm using the following meter now. I had the red cable connected to the red hole on the left side of the meter and the black cable connected to the center. Then I had set the meter to the DC10A setting.

Equus Innova 3320 - Multimeter | O'Reilly Auto Parts