Saturn Parasitic Load Test Device

The Parasitic Load Test Device SA9130Z is used with a digital multimeter. The test device is used to measure parasitic current drain from the battery with the ignition and all accessories Off. The load tester, constructed with one ohm resistance and built-in circuit protection devices, opens when the current exceeds approximately one amp. When the circuit is opened, the user is alerted by a red light-emitting diode (LED) indicator. The parasitic load test device is put into the circuit between the negative battery terminal and the negative battery cable so it effectively becomes a load in series with all other vehicle loads.

IMPORTANT:
^ The fog lamp switch must be in the Off position before load testing. In the On position, the fog lamp switch consumes about 6 milliamps of current draw regardless of the park ignition switch position or whether the key is in the ignition.
^ The ignition key must be removed from the cylinder before parasitic load testing. The key minder circuit is activated by the key cylinder switch when the key is in the ignition cylinder, which adds 20 milliamps of current draw.




1. Turn the ignition and all accessories Off and remove key from ignition switch.
2. Disconnect the cable from the negative battery terminal.

IMPORTANT: The alligator clamp on the parasitic load test device must be connected to the flat pad part on the negative battery cable. Do not connect the alligator clamp to the bolt on the negative battery cable; this will cause incorrect readings.

3. Install the parasitic load tester between the negative cable and the negative battery terminal so that the 1 ohm resistor is in series with the other resistances.




4. Set the multimeter to the MILLIVOLT scale.
5. Measure the current across the tester by putting the multimeter probes on two terminals on the end of the tester. The reading obtained is in volts. This reading is directly converted to milliamps. Should the parasitic current draw exceed 1 amp, the LED indicator on the test device will light. This may indicate that a vehicle accessory is On. For normal parasitic current drain, see next page for individual component parasitic loads.
6. To find the source of the excessive load, start removing the fuses and modules in a systematic way. When the voltage drops across the tester, the circuit or circuits protected by that fuse is the source of the current drain. Also remove the fusible link from the generator to check for a voltage drop. If the voltage drop is greater than 2 volts replace the generator. Repair the circuit and perform the parasitic load test again to verify the repair.