Battery drain?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,281
Likes: 6
From: NC USA
Battery drain?
I'm having problems with something draining power from the battery. Went out to drive the car today and battery was dead. :sad: Wasn't there something said about a switch, where if the wipers don't seat properly, they can draw current. My wiper door is not working properly and I'm thinking the problems are related. Anybody had this problem?
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 26,545
Likes: 46
From: Huntersville NC
Re: Battery drain? (Marks69BB)
Mark, battery drains are real common (why do we all have those cutoff switches? :) ) , and most common source is wiper system. I dont know if the park switch actually causes a drain. I would pull the fuse and see if the drain stops. If it does, it's in the wiper system somewhere and you can investigate further. MJ
[Modified by MNJack, 12:27 PM 12/7/2001]
[Modified by MNJack, 12:27 PM 12/7/2001]
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
From: greenville mi
Re: Battery drain? (Marks69BB)
A way to find out what might be draining power from your battery is to disconnect the positive terminal and get yourself a 12volt light with aligator clamps and clip one wire on the positive post and the other one on the cable, if the light burns bright you have a drain. Start pulling fuses one at a time until the light goes out or very dim if you have a clock running. Find out what that fuse controls will narrow it down along ways. I don't know about your 69 but I talked to a Rep. from Mid America when I went to their car show in Effingham IL. last year and he said alot of times the dome light timer goes bad causing a drain. I don't know if your 69 has that or not. :chevy
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,469
Likes: 6
From: 68 427 4.11s Roadster
Re: Battery drain? (MikeE.79)
I would check the courtesy light switches first. Much easeir and usually the problem. JUst push them in to check. If you have a voltmeter, place one lead on a terminal and the other on the plastic case. The acid can make the plastic between posts conductive. You can clean/nuetralize with baking soda Don't do this if the baking soda water can leak into the cell holes.
Having someone else watch the light or other indicator will allow you to stay at pulling and replacing the fuses in one shot.
I don't think the wiper switches are energized. They just tell the motor when the door is open and the door when the wipers are parked. There is another solnoid under the dash for the wiper system. The circut for the wipers is also all negative, only one positive, check this to be sure.
Having someone else watch the light or other indicator will allow you to stay at pulling and replacing the fuses in one shot.
I don't think the wiper switches are energized. They just tell the motor when the door is open and the door when the wipers are parked. There is another solnoid under the dash for the wiper system. The circut for the wipers is also all negative, only one positive, check this to be sure.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 251
Likes: 0
From: Toronto Ontario
Re: Battery drain? (Marks69BB)
Had the same problem. Turned out to be the little light in the rear centre compartment. Didn't push on the door hard enough to hear the 'click' and the light stayed on all the time.
Good luck
Good luck
