what is draining battery
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
what is draining battery
Hello, new to the forum. Name is Joe. Recently purchased 82 was non-running at time of purchase 2 weeks ago.
New battery was installed approx 1 week prior to purchase. Replaced fuel pump with new '85 pump after getting the car home and she fired up and ran well and has been started a couple of times during the week.
Tonight I went out to start the car and the starter solenoid clicked but no cranking. There was enough juice for the interior lights and dash. I've had it on a charger for a few hours and now she cranks but still no start. I figure the battery needs a few more hours charging.
So I can't find anything drawing current, all lights, radio are off. What could be draining the battery?
Joe
New battery was installed approx 1 week prior to purchase. Replaced fuel pump with new '85 pump after getting the car home and she fired up and ran well and has been started a couple of times during the week.
Tonight I went out to start the car and the starter solenoid clicked but no cranking. There was enough juice for the interior lights and dash. I've had it on a charger for a few hours and now she cranks but still no start. I figure the battery needs a few more hours charging.
So I can't find anything drawing current, all lights, radio are off. What could be draining the battery?
Joe
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
From: asheville nc
1. get a battery cut off and when you are thru with the car....cut the power...I do that even though no problem.
2. Take one cable off the battery and Remove one fuse at at a time and touch the removed cable to the battery in low light....if you see a spark, that circuit is okay, replace that fuse and to the next one. When you do not see a spark with a chosen fuse, that is your problem circuit...then work on finding a short according to whats run by that circuit...
You will only get a spark when something is drawing power from the battery.
2. Take one cable off the battery and Remove one fuse at at a time and touch the removed cable to the battery in low light....if you see a spark, that circuit is okay, replace that fuse and to the next one. When you do not see a spark with a chosen fuse, that is your problem circuit...then work on finding a short according to whats run by that circuit...
You will only get a spark when something is drawing power from the battery.
Last edited by 68L79; Aug 8, 2013 at 08:33 AM.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 557
Likes: 15
From: Royal Oak Michigan
Roger put together and excellent step by step thread that resurfaced recently. It helped me.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...with-pics.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...with-pics.html
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,062
Likes: 28
From: Burkburnett TX
Do your 82 a favor and do not cut off the power or unhook the battery a lot. The ecm does not like that. It forgets idle settings that take several miles over 30mph to relearn. They are also very sensitive to spikes and seem to fry quite easily, to the point that I would not jump start my 82. If you do use a cutoff, I would bypass the fused wire in the battery compartment so that your ecm can stay hot when the rest of the car is disconnected.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 241
Likes: 4
From: rochester ny
You could use an ammeter connected at the battery to see how much current is being drawn. Tape the door switch so the lights stay off as if the door is closed and pull each fuse one by one until the current draw drops and that's your bad circuit 
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
From: asheville nc
1. get a battery cut off and when you are thru with the car....cut the power...I do that even though no problem.
2. Take one cable off the battery and Remove one fuse at at a time and touch the removed cable to the battery in low light....if you see a spark, that circuit is okay, replace that fuse and to the next one. When you do not see a spark with a chosen fuse, that is your problem circuit...then work on finding a short according to whats run by that circuit...
You will only get a spark when something is drawing power from the battery.
2. Take one cable off the battery and Remove one fuse at at a time and touch the removed cable to the battery in low light....if you see a spark, that circuit is okay, replace that fuse and to the next one. When you do not see a spark with a chosen fuse, that is your problem circuit...then work on finding a short according to whats run by that circuit...
You will only get a spark when something is drawing power from the battery.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
Problem solved!
Thanks for all of the excellent advice. I'm particularly grateful for the step by step procedure written by Roger and linked by Crafty12. However, I believe the problem is solved without in depth troubleshooting.
I discovered that the glove box door doesn't latch and the PO had wired it closed but not completely closed so that the glove box light stayed ON. I've placed a piece of cardboard there to temporarily turn off the light, and now have the car on the charger once again.
I discovered that the glove box door doesn't latch and the PO had wired it closed but not completely closed so that the glove box light stayed ON. I've placed a piece of cardboard there to temporarily turn off the light, and now have the car on the charger once again.
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