Battery Electrical Drain/Parasitic Load Test. Chevrolet Cavalier 1998

For 1990-2009 cars only

Makes 🢒 Chevrolet 🢒 1998 🢒 Cavalier 🢒 Engine 🢒 Engine Electrical 🢒 Battery Electrical Drain/Parasitic Load Test

Before performing the PCM Draw Test ensure that the following conditions are met:

•	The ignition key is out of the ignition.

•	All the doors are closed.

•	The head lights and park lights are Off.

•	The courtesy lights are Off.

•	The battery is fully charged.

Perform the following procedure before starting the PCM Draw Test:

Reconnect the negative battery cable.
Remove the voltage from the PCM memory.
Connect a milliammeter between the terminals.
Read the measurement.

Checks

Action

DEFINITION: PCM current draw should be less than 10 milliamps with no circuits active. The measurement determines the value of the PCM current with all systems off.

•	A measurement above 10 milliamps indicates a possible problem with the PCM.

•	A measurement below 10 milliamps indicates that the PCM is OK.

•	A measurement over 10 milliamps indicates that the problem is not the PCM.

•	A measurement of approximately 0 amps indicates a faulty PCM.

The measurement is over 10 milliamps.

Disconnect the PCM and retest the current draw as directed.

The measurement is below 10 milliamps

Perform the battery electrical drain test again in order to retest the current drain.

The measurement is over 10 milliamps

Inspect the ORN wires for a short to ground.
Inspect the components connected to the ORN wires. Refer to Power Distribution Schematics in Wiring Systems.

The measurement is approximately 0 amps.

Replace the PCM.