battery

Hello, I’m Pete from the Car Genius team at RepairPal. I’m sorry you’re dealing with this concern on your Oldsmobile Eighty Eight. Based on the information provided it does sound like your vehicle has a parasitic battery drain. This type of drain can be caused by a number of different things ranging from something like your radio, a stuck on relay, a stuck switch, or even a short or failure in one of the electronics in your vehicle. The best way to determine the source of the battery drain is to have a parasitic battery draw test performed using a multimeter and by using a wiring diagram for your model to help narrow down and pinpoint the source of the drain. Posted below is the test procedure I like to follow which helps with identifying which component is causing the drain so it can then be repaired properly. How to Test for a Battery Drain 1. Prepare the Vehicle Remove all keys from the vehicle. Make sure windows are rolled up and everything (lights, radio, etc.) is off. Ensure you have access to the battery. 2. Set Up the Multimeter Set your multimeter to measure amps (A) or milliamps (mA). Disconnect the negative battery cable. 3. Connect the Multimeter Insert the meter’s leads correctly (negative lead in the COM port, positive lead in the amp/milliamp port). Connect one lead to the negative battery terminal. Connect the other lead to the negative battery cable you just removed. 4. Measure the Draw Wait about 5–10 minutes for the vehicle’s systems to fully power down. Read the measurement on the multimeter. Normal draw: Less than 50 milliamps (0.05 amps). Higher draw: Anything above this suggests a battery drain. 5. Find the Source (if Above 50mA) With the multimeter still connected, remove one fuse at a time. After removing each fuse, wait a minute and check the reading. When the draw drops below 50mA, the circuit for that fuse is causing the drain. If not, reinstall the fuse and move to the next one. 6. Identify the Faulty Component Use a wiring diagram to identify devices powered by the suspect fuse. Unplug each device/component one at a time, checking the meter after each. When the reading drops, you’ve found the component causing the drain. 7. Check Aftermarket Accessories If the vehicle has aftermarket electronics installed, disconnect each one. Reconnect each accessory, one at a time, while watching the meter. If the drain returns after reconnecting an accessory, that unit is the likely cause.