Major Electrical Problem, PLEASE HELP

[Dhohn]

Are there more relays than just whats under the hood ?

[george graves]

Pull all the relays - at this point you just need to find out what's causing it. The next step will be to fix it.

Is the cigarette lighter stuck in the on position? Unplug the ecu? anti-lock? Any window switches stuck on?

There aren't that may things on a e30 that can pull that current when normally running. I almost think it's a ecu, or cluster, or something that has fried. I'd be going around touching everything. What ever is doing this is hot.

[Adrian_Visser]

Maybe a wire before the fuse box is partially shorting out on the body. The battery cable goes along the passenger side door sill under the carpet, try tracing it and the wire from the fusible link from the trunk to the power distribution block and see if there is a partial breakdon in the insulation or something. Long shot I know but if you have checked the individual circuits already by pulling fuses it is an idea.

[Dhohn]

I pulled ever fuse under the hood and no significant change in draw was seen. The lights were not on and there is no stereo in the car. As of right now there is not even a deck.

Anything else you can think of other than the starter solenoid ?

[george graves]

Lol. Do you have your head light on cause:

12 amps x 12 volts = 144 watts. Whatever is eating up energy is getting very warm I can tell you that. Like 150 watt light bulb kinda warm.

Pull fuses one by one until it goes away. Check to see what's wire up to the battery. Do you have an amp that feels warm even though you're not playing music? Put yout hand on the starter solenoid. Just guessing. Report back.

[Dhohn]

One of my E30s, a 89 325ix has a serious electrical draw when the car isn't on. I have put my multimeter on searching for a short and came up with nothing.

Using my multimeter I tested for amperage draw and came up with a 12.60 amp draw. I have pulled each of the fuses in the engine bay, disconnected the alternator and pushed the button for the window circuit breaker located to the passenger side of the shifter. At the most I saw only a .20 or so drop in draw.

I have no idea where else to look, any help or guidance of other things that should be checked would be greatly appreciated.

THANKS IN ADVANCE