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Saturn Parasitic Load Test Device

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2009 Saturn Vue. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

The parasitic load test device (SA9130Z) is used with a DMM. 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 1 ohm resistance and built-in circuit protection device, opens when the current exceeds approximately 1 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.

NOTE: 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 mA of current draw.
  1. Install parasitic load tester between negative cable and negative battery terminal so the 1 ohm resistor of the tester is in series with battery. A top/side post adaptor must be used.
  2. Touch the negative battery cable to the negative battery terminal, and hold them together for 20 seconds, then remove the cable from the battery. This will allow the modules on the vehicle to wake up. Verify that the LED indicator on the tester turns OFF and stays OFF.
    • If the LED indicator does not stay off, verify that all vehicle accessories are OFF. Try holding the battery cable against the negative terminal again. If the LED indicator remains ON, something is drawing greater than 1 amp of current.
  3. Set the multimeter to MILLIVOLT scale.
  4. Measure current across the tester by putting the multimeter probes in 2 terminals on the tester. The reading is obtained in volts. This reading is directly converted to milliampere. Should the parasitic load exceed 1 amp, the LED indicator on the tester will light. This may indicate that a vehicle accessory is ON.
  5. For vehicles with electronic power steering, wait 45 minutes for the modules to go to sleep. Otherwise, wait 20 minutes for the modules to go to sleep. The current draw may be greater than 100 milliamps for the first 2-5 minutes, then it should drop to 10-30 milliamps.
    • To find the source of excessive load, start removing fuses and modules in a systematic way. When voltage drops across the tester, the circuit or circuits protected by that fuse is the source of 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.
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