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Battery Dying - Random Short

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Old Jul 14, 2005 | 12:47 PM
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Default Battery Dying - Random Short

My '75's battery dies about once a month. It will be perfectly fine starting and driving, then one day you get in to start it and the battery is dead. I really can't find any common thread with why it's dying or what could be causing a short?

Does anyone have any recommendations for troubleshooting?
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Old Jul 14, 2005 | 01:02 PM
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St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15-'16
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You need to have a digital Volt/Ohm/Amp meter.

1. Disconnect the battery
2. Assemblt the ammeter probes to the meter for measuring AMPS.
3. Connect the ammeter with one probe attached to the battery and the other to the disconnected battery cable
4. With the doors closed and all lights off, measure the current drain of the electrical system. It should be VERY LOW
5. IF NOT begin removing fuses from the fuse block one at a time until the current does drop. The fuse that stops thecurrent draw is the circuit that has the short.
6. If after all fuses are removed and you still have a draw, disconnect the alternator at the two wire connector. If that stops the draw, replace the alternator.
IF THIS IS THE ORIGINAL ALTERNATOR DO NOT TURN IT IN FOR THE CORE. SEND IT TO JOHN PIRKLE FOR REPAIR/RESTORATION. Just buy a replacement at your FLAPS.

Don

Last edited by vetsvette2002; Jul 14, 2005 at 01:04 PM.
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