What can drain a battery?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 158
Likes: 1
From: Tampa FL
What can drain a battery?
My 79 L82 had a completely dead battery today when I tried to start it. I bought the car used, so I don't know how old the battery is, but now that I have a new one, I'd like to know what to be weary of.
I start it up every week or two and drive it around, but otherwise when it's parked, the stereo is off and the clock hasn't worked in months. This is a stock car, what could be draining the battery?
I start it up every week or two and drive it around, but otherwise when it's parked, the stereo is off and the clock hasn't worked in months. This is a stock car, what could be draining the battery?
Racer
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 330
Likes: 3
From: Wellington, New Zealand
I had this problem and it was the fact that the catch for the rear centre storage compartment was broken and the light was not turning off when I closed it. Over a period of a few days it would drain the battery. I disconnected the light in the end and will fix the catch at a later date.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 158
Likes: 1
From: Tampa FL
Thanks, man. Although I have a 36 month warranty with this new battery, I'd like to check out what's wrong rather than swap it out all the time.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,837
Likes: 1,028
Here's the easy way. Lift 1 battery cable, and put a 12 volt light in series with it and the battery. Pull fuses 1 by 1 until the light goes out. Work your way down stream from there. On a 79 the only draw would be clock/and or stereo memory circuit.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 204
Likes: 0
From: Arlington Virginia
With my 80 it was the alarm system, tried to trouble shoot but got lost in the schematics. I can tell ya, there are a lot of things to go wrong there relays and switches in the doors, T-top, and hood that can go bad. I just disconnected it altogether and went with an after market system.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
I doubt a clock or radio memory would draw that much in a few weeks. My money's on stuck relays.
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Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,909
Likes: 6
From: Lake Arrowhead - Georgia > 72 Base Coupe & 74 BB Roadster
I had this problem and it was the fact that the catch for the rear centre storage compartment was broken and the light was not turning off when I closed it. Over a period of a few days it would drain the battery. I disconnected the light in the end and will fix the catch at a later date.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
From: biloxi mississippi
Had The Same Problem With My 78. Found It By Accident--one Night I Turned The Lights Off In The Garage And Noticed A Small Lighted Area In The Vette, The Glove Box Light Was Not Shut Off -- Removed The Blub -- Will Fix Someday -- Haven't Had A Problem Since
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,909
Likes: 6
From: Lake Arrowhead - Georgia > 72 Base Coupe & 74 BB Roadster
Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: New Zealand
I had the same problem with my 69 - took it to an auto electrician who said all was fine.
But it kept draining a fully charged battery over a few days.
Turned out it was my worn ignition switch allowing the key to come out in the acc position - DOH !
But it kept draining a fully charged battery over a few days.
Turned out it was my worn ignition switch allowing the key to come out in the acc position - DOH !