Parasitic battery drain from SYNC system
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Parasitic battery drain from SYNC system
My 2014 ford f350 (flexfuel) didn't start after sitting for about a month so we suspected a battery drain after checking that the battery was good. We got a fuse tester and traced it to fuse #29 which says "SYNC, GPS module, radio faceplate". The tester read 1.6 amps when we tested that fuse. Before we did this, we let the truck sit for a day without entry or other changes, then crawled in the window so as not to get any erroneous reading from something that might have a delayed shut-off. What would be the next step to try to figure out exactly what the problem is and fix it? Thanks in advance for any assistance!
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Joined: Jun 2010
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There is a "fly in the ointment" , so to speak. From what you describe there are several questions that come up.
How and what did you use to determine the battery was good ? In the process of attempting to start it , turning the key on and off leaves some questions.
Then once the vehicle started more things changed. Are there any add on's in this vehicle?
Is that the original battery ?
How and what did you use to determine the battery was good ? In the process of attempting to start it , turning the key on and off leaves some questions.
Then once the vehicle started more things changed. Are there any add on's in this vehicle?
Is that the original battery ?
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Junior Member
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Perhaps I should re-word the question. Is it normal, or expected, that the SYNC system fuse test should read 1.6 amps after the vehicle has been off for a day or more? No add-ons to truck. The battery is less than a year old and was tested with a VOM as well as the reading on the charger. When we pull out the SYNC fuse and let it sit for a week, the voltage reading on the battery is higher than when we leave the SYNC fuse in and let it sit for a week.
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 16,662
The ,,"Generally" accepted current drain from a system after all the modules have gone into sleep mode is around 50 ma. With the reading you are getting would tell us possibly one of the modules is not going into sleep mode or is malfunctioning. A capable scan tool could check module health if that is the problem.
If the key or fob is somewhere near the vehicle that could be one of the causes.Can I inquire where you obtained the info that suggested what components might be involved?
If the key or fob is somewhere near the vehicle that could be one of the causes.Can I inquire where you obtained the info that suggested what components might be involved?
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Junior Member
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We used a fuse tester and pulled out all the fuses, one by one, and inserted the fuse tester into each fuse outlet, then replaced the fuse and went on to the next one. On fuse #29 which says "SYNC, GPS module, radio faceplate" the reading on the test meter was 1.6 amps. No key was near the vehicle. We have something called a "blue driver" and it did not identify any problems. Is that type of scan tool you are talking about?
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 16,662
There are all sorts of scan tools out there.
Some are capable of doing module health checks. Those run for a few thousand dollars each.
If your tool instruction manual doesn't have a section to explain or do module health check status , then you may need to have that done by someone that has a tool that can provide that.
If you have a copy of your owners manual , check the specifications section. In there it usually lists the fuse and what is on the circuit that fuse protects and there may be more on that circuit than display and GPS.
Some are capable of doing module health checks. Those run for a few thousand dollars each.
If your tool instruction manual doesn't have a section to explain or do module health check status , then you may need to have that done by someone that has a tool that can provide that.
If you have a copy of your owners manual , check the specifications section. In there it usually lists the fuse and what is on the circuit that fuse protects and there may be more on that circuit than display and GPS.
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Joined: Jun 2023
Posts: 3
From: NW
Wow
There are all sorts of scan tools out there.
Some are capable of doing module health checks. Those run for a few thousand dollars each.
If your tool instruction manual doesn't have a section to explain or do module health check status , then you may need to have that done by someone that has a tool that can provide that.
If you have a copy of your owners manual , check the specifications section. In there it usually lists the fuse and what is on the circuit that fuse protects and there may be more on that circuit than display and GPS.
Some are capable of doing module health checks. Those run for a few thousand dollars each.
If your tool instruction manual doesn't have a section to explain or do module health check status , then you may need to have that done by someone that has a tool that can provide that.
If you have a copy of your owners manual , check the specifications section. In there it usually lists the fuse and what is on the circuit that fuse protects and there may be more on that circuit than display and GPS.
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2024
Posts: 2
My 2014 ford f350 (flexfuel) didn't start after sitting for about a month so we suspected a battery drain after checking that the battery was good. We got a fuse tester and traced it to fuse #29 which says "SYNC, GPS module, radio faceplate". The tester read 1.6 amps when we tested that fuse. Before we did this, we let the truck sit for a day without entry or other changes, then crawled in the window so as not to get any erroneous reading from something that might have a delayed shut-off. What would be the next step to try to figure out exactly what the problem is and fix it? Thanks in advance for any assistance!
Thanks