1968 Weird Electrical Draw
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 499
Likes: 4
From: Loxahatchee FL
1968 Weird Electrical Draw
Ok, this one has me baffled. Something is pulling my battery down to zero in about 36 hours. I have replaced all the wiring harnesses in the car with Lectric Limited harnesses. I've also replaced the door ajar and courtesy light switches.
Here's the deal. With the key in the off position, the wiper override set to allow the wipers to work and the doors closed there is a 1.5 amp draw on the battery. Opening either door causes the draw to drop to .5amps. Pushing the door ajar switch in does not change the draw, however, pushing the the courtesy light switch causes the draw to INCREASE to 1.5 amps. I would expect the opposite to happen, when opening the door the courtesy lights come on and should increase the draw, but in my situation it lowers the draw?!?!?!
Any ideas? I'm a bit of an electrical idiot.
Thanks,
Rick L.
Here's the deal. With the key in the off position, the wiper override set to allow the wipers to work and the doors closed there is a 1.5 amp draw on the battery. Opening either door causes the draw to drop to .5amps. Pushing the door ajar switch in does not change the draw, however, pushing the the courtesy light switch causes the draw to INCREASE to 1.5 amps. I would expect the opposite to happen, when opening the door the courtesy lights come on and should increase the draw, but in my situation it lowers the draw?!?!?!
Any ideas? I'm a bit of an electrical idiot.
Thanks,
Rick L.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 499
Likes: 4
From: Loxahatchee FL
Update
Something I forgot to mention, the car had this problem prior to me replacing all the wiring harnesses.
So, I think I figured out the wierdness. Top compartment courtsey light was shorted. That's fixed, but I still have a 1.5 amp draw. I pulled the fuses 1 by 1 and no change in the draw. Courtsey lamp fuse is now out of the car, all other fuses in. I disconnected the wiper motor, washer motor, wiper door switch, coil, voltage regulator, heater fan and all wires to the alternator. I still have a 1.5 amp draw. I'm going to check the starter, but it is a brand new rebuild from John Pirkle, so I doubt that is the problem.
Any ideas? I am going to start disconnecting complete harnesses here shortly.
Thanks,
Rick L.
So, I think I figured out the wierdness. Top compartment courtsey light was shorted. That's fixed, but I still have a 1.5 amp draw. I pulled the fuses 1 by 1 and no change in the draw. Courtsey lamp fuse is now out of the car, all other fuses in. I disconnected the wiper motor, washer motor, wiper door switch, coil, voltage regulator, heater fan and all wires to the alternator. I still have a 1.5 amp draw. I'm going to check the starter, but it is a brand new rebuild from John Pirkle, so I doubt that is the problem.
Any ideas? I am going to start disconnecting complete harnesses here shortly.
Thanks,
Rick L.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 8,918
Likes: 27
From: New Hill NC
The 68 wiper wiring has always been a problem. Normally if you allow it to cycle fully and turn off, it will not draw. But if you than accidentally or on purpose hit the wiper switch the thing will draw current and kill the battery. Its a quirk with 68.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 499
Likes: 4
From: Loxahatchee FL
First off, I am an idiot. New meter forgot to zero it.
wombvette wins the prize. It's the wiper motor. Started smoking while I was putting connectors back on. The same thing happened when I was trying to fix the Bubba'd harness, which is what made me replace all the harnesses.
Thanks!!
wombvette wins the prize. It's the wiper motor. Started smoking while I was putting connectors back on. The same thing happened when I was trying to fix the Bubba'd harness, which is what made me replace all the harnesses.
Thanks!!
