What Could Cause Battery to Drain When Flat Towing with Battery Disconnect

Updated 08/04/2021 | Published 08/03/2021

Question:

We have been using a Blue Ox system with fuse bypasses for a couple of months now with our RV and our 2013 Buick Enclave. However, on our last trip, something drained the Buick battery while we were traveling. We had followed the same checklist in connecting the Buick to the RV, so we are a little unclear as to where to begin. The only unusual thing that happened during the most recent trip was that when we connected the power cable between the RV and Buick, the Buick brake began trying to engage repeatedly which had not happened before. Does that mean we need to adjust the braking control, and could that be the extra drain that killed the battery? I still dont understand how the battery can drain when we had the fuses configured for towing. Any help is appreciated!

asked by: Susan

Expert Reply:

You didn't mention what braking system you have in your 2013 Buick Enclave but most likely it's one you have wired to it's battery directly which would be the only thing that could be drawing amperage when you are flat towing. Best option would be to start there since that's the only viable option that could drain the battery and also since you mentioned the braking system was behaving erratically. Check for error codes and maybe just test it to see if it's functioning properly.

expert reply by: Jameson C