Slow drain
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,818
Likes: 470
From: Wichita Kansas
Slow drain
I have a dead battery after the car sits about 3 days after driving it. However, if I disconnect the battery, it holds it's charge and will start the car after more days than that. Is there a simple way to tell if something or which something is draining the battery? I have one of those cheap digital meters but don't know how to use it, could I touch the pos and neg of the battery with this device with the car off and see if the battery is being drained? Electrical just ain't my bag...
Thanks in advance........
Thanks in advance........
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 213
Likes: 0
From: Nowhere Mars (Southern Indiana)
IIRC:
Get a test light
Unhook the negative terminal
Place test light between terminal and negative battery cable
If light is on you have a draw
Check door switches/Pull fuses till you find what makes the test light go out
Unhook the negative terminal
Place test light between terminal and negative battery cable
If light is on you have a draw
Check door switches/Pull fuses till you find what makes the test light go out
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Here, read this paper that a fellow forum member wrote. It outlines a VERY easy way to track down a drain on your battery.
http://photos.imageevent.com/durango...%20Testing.pdf
http://photos.imageevent.com/durango...%20Testing.pdf
Racer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 316
Likes: 0
From: Warwick Rhode Island
I feel your pain. My 79 has a serious draw that I'm getting closer to finding using the method DB replied with. My battery is drained within a day if I leave it connected. I've narrowed it down to one of the relays - the fuses don't appear to be the cause.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 14,062
Likes: 602
From: Henderson Nv-Rohnert Park/Sonoma C o. ca/born in NY Rockaway Beach.
I must say that I just got over a battery drain.. I used the paper that Durango boy posted and it helped me very much.. I had nevery used a meter or a test light in that way before and now I fixed my problem.....
So follow that paper and ask questions....
I pulled every fuse till i found the right one.. then i messed with everthing that was on that fuse curcuit, pulled every relay and everything till I found what turned out my light..... It turned out to be my radio hooked up wrong...........'
If you need your wire diagram a forum member here on the c3 has the disc and can send your the diagram for your year if you ask....
Good luck
So follow that paper and ask questions....
I pulled every fuse till i found the right one.. then i messed with everthing that was on that fuse curcuit, pulled every relay and everything till I found what turned out my light..... It turned out to be my radio hooked up wrong...........'
If you need your wire diagram a forum member here on the c3 has the disc and can send your the diagram for your year if you ask....
Good luck
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,802
Likes: 61
From: Wichita KS
I have a dead battery after the car sits about 3 days after driving it. However, if I disconnect the battery, it holds it's charge and will start the car after more days than that. Is there a simple way to tell if something or which something is draining the battery? I have one of those cheap digital meters but don't know how to use it, could I touch the pos and neg of the battery with this device with the car off and see if the battery is being drained? Electrical just ain't my bag...
Thanks in advance........
Thanks in advance........
Tonight, I went through Durango_boys test procedure and apparently my drain is in a non-fused circuit.
The only ones I can think of are starter and alternator. I will disconnect the alternator and see if the light goes out but if it's not that, can anyone tell me what to look for next?
cc
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,095
Likes: 299
From: Midlothian VA
David, I have the same problem but it takes about 4 days to drain my battery. For the time being I keep a battery tender on it.
Tonight, I went through Durango_boys test procedure and apparently my drain is in a non-fused circuit.
The only ones I can think of are starter and alternator. I will disconnect the alternator and see if the light goes out but if it's not that, can anyone tell me what to look for next?
cc
Tonight, I went through Durango_boys test procedure and apparently my drain is in a non-fused circuit.
The only ones I can think of are starter and alternator. I will disconnect the alternator and see if the light goes out but if it's not that, can anyone tell me what to look for next?
cc
Disconnected the Alternator and "viola" drain be gone.
Tore down the alternator and found that I had a diode leak.
Simply replaced the diodes and problem solved.
Test light works but in my opinion a multi meter or milliamp meter is better at identifying such a small drain. You gotta be down in the 3mA range to observe it as the light just won't glow at that point. Just put the meter across the test lamp between the battery and battery cable.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,802
Likes: 61
From: Wichita KS
Well, crap. I forgot about the main power lead for the radio! I'll bet that is what is draining the battery.
I'll have to test again.
cc
I disconnected the main power feed for the radio and retested. Still there.
I'll have to test again.
cc
I disconnected the main power feed for the radio and retested. Still there.
Last edited by CCrane65; Mar 1, 2008 at 03:21 PM. Reason: Update
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,818
Likes: 470
From: Wichita Kansas
This is driving me nuts because although I have only had the car a couple of years, it never did this before and I do not know of anything that has changed in all this time. I have not had a chance to use the test light on it but will try to get to it tomorrow. oh wait, I did have some fuseable links blow and were replaced, along with some taping of wires to prevent shorts again. I will see....thanks for everyone's input.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
The CTSY light circuit has a bunch of stuff on it that can cause problems. If however you pull that fuse and you still have the test light lit, it may not be the problem. Remove the fuses one at a time like mentioned, but don't put them back in until you have verified all the circuits, you could have more than 1 problem. The interior light times is fused from 2 different fuses: CTSY and Gauges.
The Key/Seat Belt Buzzer is electronic and fused from CTSY and Gauges, if it shorts internally it will cause a drain.
Sometimes the wires get connected to the starter incorrectly, there is a black wire down there with a large ring terminal on it. SOmetimes it gets connected to the Battery cable on the solenoid, it is actually a ground for the engine bay wire harness and should be connected to a bolt on the bellhousing.
The retractable antenna can hang up and stay hot sometimes too.
The Key/Seat Belt Buzzer is electronic and fused from CTSY and Gauges, if it shorts internally it will cause a drain.
Sometimes the wires get connected to the starter incorrectly, there is a black wire down there with a large ring terminal on it. SOmetimes it gets connected to the Battery cable on the solenoid, it is actually a ground for the engine bay wire harness and should be connected to a bolt on the bellhousing.
The retractable antenna can hang up and stay hot sometimes too.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,802
Likes: 61
From: Wichita KS
Well, I pulled every fuse in the fuse panel and the test light still lights up.
I guess I can pull the fuse in the horn circuit and see if the drain is there.
I also checked the black starter wire with the ring on the end and it is bolted to the bell housing on the back side.
Any other things I can check?
BTW, David, if you want to bring your Corvette over and put it up on the rack to check your starter wire you are more than welcome to.
I'd be glad to run through the fuses with you too.
cc
I guess I can pull the fuse in the horn circuit and see if the drain is there.
I also checked the black starter wire with the ring on the end and it is bolted to the bell housing on the back side.
Any other things I can check?
BTW, David, if you want to bring your Corvette over and put it up on the rack to check your starter wire you are more than welcome to.
I'd be glad to run through the fuses with you too.
cc
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Pro
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 712
Likes: 4
From: caraquet N.B Canada
I had a power leak in my headlight swicht. If i turned the swicht off with the instrument panel light on, a week after i had no power but if i turn the instrument panel light off and then turn off my headlight i had no problems of power leak.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,818
Likes: 470
From: Wichita Kansas
Well, I pulled every fuse in the fuse panel and the test light still lights up.
I guess I can pull the fuse in the horn circuit and see if the drain is there.
I also checked the black starter wire with the ring on the end and it is bolted to the bell housing on the back side.
Any other things I can check?
BTW, David, if you want to bring your Corvette over and put it up on the rack to check your starter wire you are more than welcome to.
I'd be glad to run through the fuses with you too.
cc
I guess I can pull the fuse in the horn circuit and see if the drain is there.
I also checked the black starter wire with the ring on the end and it is bolted to the bell housing on the back side.
Any other things I can check?
BTW, David, if you want to bring your Corvette over and put it up on the rack to check your starter wire you are more than welcome to.
I'd be glad to run through the fuses with you too.
cc
