electrical question (maybe TJ specific, maybe not?)

[bigwaylon]

been having a slow electrical drain since the TJ got flipped...always assumed there was a wire grounded somewhere, or something else odd...

saw some discussion on here about how to test to find the short/ground...and also that maybe a mud-clogged starter (which mine is) may keep a constant drain on the battery...

since I don't drive it...I really haven't cared...just jump it off the night before I go wheeling, let it run a little, and it'll be good as long as it gets cranked every 2-3 days...

HOWEVER, headed out tonight to let the dog out, and heard a beeping...like a truck backing up...the TJ is still on the trailer, parked in front of the house (where I was standing) instead of in it's normal spot in back of the house...

the beeping was coming from the TJ...same beep as if you leave your doors open, keys in ignition, or lights on...

light switch wasn't on, fuse wasn't even in slot 4, the door switches have been removed...no idea what was causing it...but, the overhead light and the floor boards lights were all on, although very dim, and headlights wouldn't turn on (it's been sitting where it is since Saturday night 9 days ago)...

I pulled the IOD fuse and it cut off...any ideas on what would cause that dinging?

Thanks.
Greg

 

[Down&Dirty]

Sounds like even though the switches are removed that one of those wires is shorted to gound. A lot of door switches are just a pin switch to ground. If the wire shorts anywhere along its length it will act just like the door switch is there. Another thing that could have happened is something got behind the fuse panel and is shorting out back there. When I pulled mine on the CJ there was all kinds of crap behind the fuse panel. It was obvious why I was having charging problems.

 

[bigwaylon]

UPDATE:

went out today to mess with the TJ for the first time since the original post...

as soon as I pushed the IOD fuse back in, the "ding" started back...which wasn't surprising seeing as how I hadn't worked on it at all

battery was basically dead...wouldn't turn over one bit...but as soon as I hooked up the jumper cables, the dinging stopped...

is there something in the wiring that would cause a low/dying battery to cause this? after letting it idle for 30-40 minutes, I turned it off, and no ding...

I know there's still a problem, cause the battery still dies...but maybe it has nothing to do with the door switches?

Greg