SMC controller draining voltage when turned on?

[d0n_3d]

Here's an odd one for you guys. All of a sudden I have a problem when I try to turn on my SMC alky controller inside the car, the battery voltage drops to like 11.0's instead of being at mid 13's. What is up with that?! I have the controller grounded in it's usual spot under the dash and the power wire is in the ign slot in the fuse box. I wonder why it would all of a sudden start drawing so much juice? I must have a short somewhere you think? Any help is much appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Razor]

Man that would have to be a hell of a drain to do that. Even lights dont.

I really dont think it can draw current like that "and" still function.

Even if it could draw current, I would bet the fuse on it would blow before it could create any issue.

Take another look at your elctrical system in the car. Check your engine grounds, maybe attach the power to the SMC to another one of the IGN terminals on the fuse box.

HTH

 

[d0n_3d]

yeah that's what I kinda figured...I'll look at all the wires and see what's going on...I bet it's something stupid like usual...

on another note...even though I have an SMC kit, I like the fact that you take the time to answer questions for people even if they don't have your product...that's really cool...nice to have vendors like that

 

[Razor]

Don.. Thanks for posting.. Somethings with other products I wont touch.. On the electrical end.. i'll help.

 

[d0n_3d]

Don.. Thanks for posting.. Somethings with other products I wont touch.. On the electrical end.. i'll help.

Well I checked the wiring to the fuse box...I put the red power wire into a couple other ign slots and same thing happens...whenever I turn on the controller, the damn voltage drops like almost 3 volts...is the controller just bad? my ground is fine...I haven't touched anything else with this alky system since the last time it worked fine...kinda odd situation!

 

[Razor]

Don, where are you measuring the voltage?

Why dont you put an ammetter inline with the red wire going to the controller. That will let you know if there is abnormal draw. With the system not working, there should be zero amps drawn. Once you start to spray.. ie hit the test button.. the amps will increase.

Another thing you can do is unhook the wiring leading from the controller to the pump/tank. That would isolate an issue with a pinched wire/issue elsewhere in the car.

Pretty much.. if you unhook the pump wires from the controller and it draws current.,. something has gone bad inside his box.

Not much else.. suprissed you dont see smoke or wires heating up going to the controller if its drawing current.

HTH

 

[d0n_3d]

well I was reading the voltage off the scanmaster...i will test the red wire on the box and see what voltage is...thanks

 

[Razor]

Don.. shame on you. :tongue: The scanmaster reads the data on the aldl. Its not a voltmeter. The ecm outputs data on the aldl based on what it senses.. you could be losing voltage through your ignition switch..ecm plugs.. fuse box.. etc.. consequently losing voltage to the ecm... but this type of troubleshooting needs to be done using a "REAL" volt meter.

 

[d0n_3d]

well I learned a great lesson...for some reason when I disconnected the wire going to my GNX dash going to my power injection light, and turned the controller back on...it didn't drain the voltage...I guess the light bulb socket in the dash for the power injection light isn't grounded to anything so it's sucking juice when I turn the controller on...all of things...I swear I've had more wiring incidents since I did this dash!!! oh well I still love it!

same thing happened when I didn't have the "volt" light hooked up in the new dash and my car wouldn't hold a charge and would constantly lose voltage until it died...so I bought a casper's voltage harness fix from the alternator and now I'm good...

JFYI!