Electrical Issue - Instrument lights on, battery draw
Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2018 6:13 pm
For the last several months, my L300 camper van has been illuminating the battery, brake, and coolant lights on the dashboard when the vehicle is running. These instrument lights kind of 'pulse' and change brightness with some relation to engine RPM. At very high RPM the lights will sometimes fade off, only to return the moment RPM dips.
Background—
This stuff might be unrelated, but:
-I've been through 4 different batteries in the past 6 years.
-I suspected the alternator, but when this dash illumination issue started I was told by a local parts shop that the alternator tested fine.
-I did a 'battery draw' test, and the system draws 20mA when the ignition is off
-I tested the alternator draw/rectifier and it doesn't seem to be the source of the draw.
-1988 L300 (USA version) 2WD 2.4L petrol
Has anyone had similar experience?
Or can point to likely culprits or workflow for solution?
Background—
This stuff might be unrelated, but:
-I've been through 4 different batteries in the past 6 years.
-I suspected the alternator, but when this dash illumination issue started I was told by a local parts shop that the alternator tested fine.
-I did a 'battery draw' test, and the system draws 20mA when the ignition is off
-I tested the alternator draw/rectifier and it doesn't seem to be the source of the draw.
-1988 L300 (USA version) 2WD 2.4L petrol
Has anyone had similar experience?
Or can point to likely culprits or workflow for solution?