dead battery
Thread Starter
Navigator
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
dead battery
hey, im new to the community. have a quick question for the electrical savvy folks. here goes, everything was fine with my 79 vette's electrical system until i let my aunt take it for a few days to florida.i don't recommend that by the way. while she had it the altinator blew up(fell apart at the scews) ever since i put a new one in something has been draining the battery. it will only hold a charge for about 2 days. everything works right and it runs fine. i was kinda thinking the interior light timer dohicky. any thoughts at all would be great. thanks 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 8,918
Likes: 27
From: New Hill NC
hey, im new to the community. have a quick question for the electrical savvy folks. here goes, everything was fine with my 79 vette's electrical system until i let my aunt take it for a few days to florida.i don't recommend that by the way. while she had it the altinator blew up(fell apart at the scews) ever since i put a new one in something has been draining the battery. it will only hold a charge for about 2 days. everything works right and it runs fine. i was kinda thinking the interior light timer dohicky. any thoughts at all would be great. thanks
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 157
Likes: 1
From: Sebring florida
Charge the battery and then load test it. Sounds like the batt is DOA. If it load tests good
then darken the room or at night take the pos batt lead off and slowly touch the pos post and watch for a small spark indicating something is still on or drawing down the batt.
Be carefull of any fumes.
then darken the room or at night take the pos batt lead off and slowly touch the pos post and watch for a small spark indicating something is still on or drawing down the batt.
Be carefull of any fumes.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 228
Likes: 1
From: Warwick New York
what does the volt gauge say when it is running, and what does it say with the ignition on and not running. it should be putting out 13 to 14 volts when running if it is not it will not charge the battery.
Instructor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 154
Likes: 3
From: Indiana
CaptL27 is correct. A good battery should have read about 12.75 when the engine is OFF and should read between 13 and 14.5 when running (charging). If is is not above 13 when the engine is running you may have a bad Alt.
If the battery IS being charged by the Alt, I would remove the fuses from the fuse opanel and see if the battery retains the charge. Add the fuses back one at a time and see which circuit is causing the drain.
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Thread Starter
Navigator
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
well now i have an issue with my voltage going high and low while driving.. i think its the voltage regulator. correct me if im wronge but thats in the altinator right? any other ideas would be great. thanks guys.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 8,918
Likes: 27
From: New Hill NC
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 222
Likes: 0
From: penngrove ca
Use volt meter to check for draw. Charge battery, then disconnect neg cable; connect + probe of meter to neg. cable and - probe to neg post. If it shows zero you don't have a draw and problem is battery. Make sure doors are closed and key is off. Then you start pulling fuses until draw goes away. I'd start at alt. connections.
