Well, my little 93 tracker has always been a fantastic vehicle, never any problems.  I haven't been driving it much lately because I need to work on the brakes, but while it's been sitting it seems to have developed an electrical problem.

The first symptom was the radio loosing it's presets every few days.  I thought the old battery that was in it was probably bad, so I replaced that.  Charged it up and then the next day it was totally dead again.  I've made sure all the lights are off, turned off the dome light, etc. but something is still draining power from the battery.

Has anyone else ever had a problem like this just spontaneously show up?  Any ideas what it could be?  (I'm suspecting that something is fubarred with the radio and it's draining power, but don't see how that could happen just sitting.)

It sounds like there's a short somewhere, and those can be hard to track down. Or, the radio could just be dieing - is the truck "dead" after a couple days of sitting, or are you just loosing presets on the radio?

Sounds like something is using power, maybe the radio. First, get it going and meter the battery while running - you should read around 14.4 volts running, and 12.6 volts while off with little to no decrease in voltage over about an hour. If it's dropping below 12 volts, the battery is bad.
Let is sit again overnight, this time with the radio either unplugged direct, or just pull the fuse.

The problem started with the radio just loosing presets if I left the tracker sitting for about three or four days.  Eventually it got to the point where I'd get in and it wouldn't start.  No lights at all.  Thought the battery was dieing so I replaced it.  New battery, same result.  If I get a jump, the tracker will run and it will charge the battery up, but after sitting overnight the battery will be dead again.

I discovered over the weekend that rats have invaded my garage and made themselves at home in some antique game machines I've had in there, but the tracker stays outside under the car-port, so I hope they haven't made themselves at home in the tracker's wiring.

 Just a thought, try removing the alternator and take it down to a local parts house and have it tested. Tell us what they say. I've had that be the mysterious culprit for that exact issue several times over the years.

Just a thought, try removing the alternator and take it down to a local parts house and have it tested.

x2
I hope that you kept the old battery which is still good.

It could be something as simple as a lose fan belt.  It's obviously not charging.
If the alt is good, consider the cables.  If the alt is bad, you might as well replace it with a GM.
http://www.roadlessgear.com/page/RGL/PROD/E/RG101
http://www.zukikrawlers.com/showthread.php?t=2648

The Alt is good.  The battery will charge up fine if I drive it.  The problem is if I leave it sitting, even overnight the battery runs down again.  I can put a charger on it, let the charger cycle through, then I can start her up just fine.  Drive it around maybe 5 minutes, then bring it back and park it.  Next morning, the battery will be completely dead again.

Here is something to try:


Take a picture or write down the size of all fuses in each position on the fuse block.

measure the charge of the battery at full charge with the engine shut off.

Power off everything on the truck.  double check that the dome light is off.

remove all of the fuses.

Let the truck sit overnight, then measure the voltage across the battery.  It should have very close to the original voltage value.  If not, then you have eliminated about 90% of the wiring.  A short of some sort exists between the battery and the fuse block.  Fortunately, because you have eliminated 90% of the circuitry, the problem will be easy to find.

Now, select any particular fuse and insert it into the fuse block at it's correct position.

If that circuit is causing the battery to discharge (again leaving it overnight after a full charge), you have found the problem circuit!

If not, recharge the battery, plug in another fuse. and then check the voltage the following day.

repeat the above process until you either find the bad circuit or go crazy.

You can shorten the checking time by using an ammeter that can measure up to 15 amps at 12 volts.  I may be asking you to use a large amp meter but if you use a small one you are liable to damage it by connecting it to a circuit drawing too much current for the meter.  Larger is better.  Instead of waiting for the battery to discharge after plugging in a fuse, connect the amp meter IN SERIES with the battery - not across the battery connectors.  connect one side of the amp meter to the battery's positive post and the other to the cable that was connected to the post so that the current flows though the amp meter.  Observe proper polarity as specified by the meter's instructions.

As you add fuses you will notice a sharp increase in current flow in the meter's reading when you plug in the defective circuit.

Finally go through the offending circuit until you find the problem. Since you have a Tracker, it might be difficult to get a copy of the wiring diagram.  The Haynes or Chiltons manuals may have a wiring diagram in the back for early models of Trackers/Sidekicks.  you can usually find a copy of either book at the local library.


I hope that this helps!

Remember these zuks are grounded by the accessory itself. Internal positive short to ground will drain the battery. Acks method of elimination should find the bad accessory.

Well, I was thinking of just connecting an ammeter in series with the positive terminal and checking the current draw then pulling each fuse and re-checking.  Unless there is some sort of leakage between 2 circuits that should be a quick way to find the problem.