battery discharge
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
From: Delta Ohio
battery discharge
Hi All
I have a 80 vette and i just noticed that my battery will go dead (5 Volts) after 3 or 4 days with a full charge (charging system is working). I disconnected the clock so no juice is going to to that. One wierd thing is that it seems it might only do it after I leave the key in the ignition, yes the ignition is in the off position. after 4 days with key out it started fine 3 days with key in ignition dead. is there any explanation for this????? thanks
I have a 80 vette and i just noticed that my battery will go dead (5 Volts) after 3 or 4 days with a full charge (charging system is working). I disconnected the clock so no juice is going to to that. One wierd thing is that it seems it might only do it after I leave the key in the ignition, yes the ignition is in the off position. after 4 days with key out it started fine 3 days with key in ignition dead. is there any explanation for this????? thanks
Racer
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 370
Likes: 0
From: Cherry Hill N.J.
battery discharge
It is possible that if you leave your key in the ignition the key warning buzzer is running down the battery.
The coil for the buzzer is energized but the buzzer is broken,just a thought.
The coil for the buzzer is energized but the buzzer is broken,just a thought.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,458
Likes: 331
From: Indy Indiana
get yourself a milli amp volt meter, they are around 20 bucks, your car should draw around 9-11 milli amps just sitting with key out and everything off, doors closed... that's the draw for the clock and maybe radio memory, then let us know if the draw is any more than that, disconnect fuses until you spot the bigger draw..
but your problem could be as simple as your battery, hold old is it?
make sure your battery is not old and unable to hold a charge.. try disconnecting the battery for 3 or 4 days, then reconnnect it and try starting.. if it won't start then it's your battery, go get you a new, biggest highest cold cranking amp battery you can find..
my car would not start after sitting 5 days, my milliamp draw is 9 millamps.. it would start after 3 or 4 days sitting... but 5 days seemed to be the threshold... I went out and bought the biggest, baddest battery I could find, 900 cold cranking amps.. problem solved.. one time this summer, it sat in the garage for 5 weeks, i went out and it started right up...
but your problem could be as simple as your battery, hold old is it?
make sure your battery is not old and unable to hold a charge.. try disconnecting the battery for 3 or 4 days, then reconnnect it and try starting.. if it won't start then it's your battery, go get you a new, biggest highest cold cranking amp battery you can find..
my car would not start after sitting 5 days, my milliamp draw is 9 millamps.. it would start after 3 or 4 days sitting... but 5 days seemed to be the threshold... I went out and bought the biggest, baddest battery I could find, 900 cold cranking amps.. problem solved.. one time this summer, it sat in the garage for 5 weeks, i went out and it started right up...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,814
Likes: 469
From: Wichita Kansas
[QUOTE=joewill;1567350717]get yourself a milli amp volt meter, they are around 20 bucks, your car should draw around 9-11 milli amps just sitting with key out and everything off, doors closed... that's the draw for the clock and maybe radio memory, then let us know if the draw is any more than that, disconnect fuses until you spot the bigger draw..QUOTE]
I suspect I have a similar problem with my '72, and have one of those cheap meters but don't know how to use it to test the draw. Can you give me/us a quick lesson? Very grateful.
I suspect I have a similar problem with my '72, and have one of those cheap meters but don't know how to use it to test the draw. Can you give me/us a quick lesson? Very grateful.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,458
Likes: 331
From: Indy Indiana
set your meter to milliamp mode , disconnect your battery positive cable., connect the red connector meter wire to your positive cable and the other meter wire ( Black ) to your battery positive terminal, so now you have them connected in series... then observe the currect draw, do not try to start the car or turn on a high amp circuit ( Fan, lights) or you may cook your meter.
a milliamp is one thousands of an amp, your headlights will probably draw 5000 milliamps..
anyway, see what it draws, if it draws much more than 10 milliamps then pull fuses one by one until you see when your draw drops..
if that fails then disconnect your alternator, and check your draw. sometimes they might have bad diodes and will short current to ground
i have heard of the DOOR AJAR switches grounding out too so check those..
but, still beware the problem may be the battery, if your battery is getting old, just buy you a new one, it is almost always good money spent..
a milliamp is one thousands of an amp, your headlights will probably draw 5000 milliamps..
anyway, see what it draws, if it draws much more than 10 milliamps then pull fuses one by one until you see when your draw drops..
if that fails then disconnect your alternator, and check your draw. sometimes they might have bad diodes and will short current to ground
i have heard of the DOOR AJAR switches grounding out too so check those..
but, still beware the problem may be the battery, if your battery is getting old, just buy you a new one, it is almost always good money spent..
