Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Fog Lamp Fuse related to Alternator?

I've been having a problem with something draining my battery on my 98 SVT. Something was drawing about 5 Amps with everything off (doors closed, no lights). I traced the problem to the fog lamp circuit. When I removed fuse #5 for the fog lamps (in the engine compartment). The amps went away.

So, I thought GREAT! Problem solved until I find the short in the fogs. Except now it seems the alternator isn't charging the battery, I didn't even make it home from my parents before the battery completely died. When I replaced the fuse and got a jump, everything seemed fine again. Started getting about 14 Volts with the engine running and the battery charged.

Can anyone shed some light on this problem? Why would a 15 Amp fog lamp circuit have anything to do with the alternator?

Tomorrow I plan to unplug the alternator with the fuse in and see if the amps go away, which (if I'm not mistaken) would mean a short in the alternator.

This CEGer seems to be having the same problem. Let's see who finds the solution and posts first.

http://www.contour.org/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=trouble&Number=1169311&page=1&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=31&fpart=1

His problem is nothing like mine. Everything works fine on my car (no fuses are blowing either). I just have something pulling about 5 Amps when the car is off and it's draining the battery. Removing the fog lamp fuse #5 eliminates the problem, but also prevents the alternator from charging the battery for some reason.

For some reason, an idiot design engineer used the same circuit for the alternator feedback as the foglamps.

If the fuse F5 blows or is removed, the alternator won't charge.

A 5 A draw in this cirucit (not to the fogs) means it's time for a new alternator.

Sorry...

Steve