1978 battery issues
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
From: Rapid City South Dakota
1978 battery issues
I have a 1978 C3 and am experiencing battery issues. I can charge the battery and it will start right up but leave it sit for a day and its dead. Both the battery and the charging system check out fine. So…. I am experiencing a draw from somewhere. My question: Is there a common area with this car that seams to have problems that I should check first? Who else has had this issue and what was the problem that you found? All help is most helpful and welcomed.
Thanks in advance,
Dano
Thanks in advance,
Dano
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 801
Likes: 1
There is a way to find where the drain is.If I remember right.you disconnect the neg battery cable and run a volt meter from it to the ground. Then pull fuses one at a time while watching the meter.man don't quote me on this as its been a while since I did it.
Racer
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 370
Likes: 0
From: Cherry Hill N.J.
if you have a light under your hood.......make sure it goes out with hood closed...
The mercury switch located IN the light socked has a habit of failing.
Remove bulb and see if battery still dies, if so,the delay timer for the cabin lights also is known to drain battery.
The mercury switch located IN the light socked has a habit of failing.
Remove bulb and see if battery still dies, if so,the delay timer for the cabin lights also is known to drain battery.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,663
Likes: 162
From: columbia city in
charge the battery but do not hook it up for a day and see if it holds a charge .lots of things can discharge the battery .pull out all the fuses[just one side ]put the battery back in.wait 24 hrs and see if it drains the battery .it may take awhile but then you will know what circiut it is.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 201
Likes: 2
From: Ocean County NJ
You can always try a contraption called "Priority Start." It hooks to battery and when it senses a draw, which would cause the battery to drain, it shuts off power to the car. Thus conserving the battery and preventing it from going dead. It's worth looking into if you can't figure out what is drawing the power. Anywhere between $70-$90 from the various corvette vendors.
Andy
Andy
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 5,235
Likes: 898
From: Myrtle Beach SC
I picked up a Solar battery/charging system tester as a recommendation from a C5 clinic at Carlisle this past year. Got it from Mid America but it will isolate battry from charging system and help assess component integrity.
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Instructor
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 127
Likes: 0
From: Twin Falls Id
I have a 1978 C3 and am experiencing battery issues. I can charge the battery and it will start right up but leave it sit for a day and its dead. Both the battery and the charging system check out fine. So…. I am experiencing a draw from somewhere. My question: Is there a common area with this car that seams to have problems that I should check first? Who else has had this issue and what was the problem that you found? All help is most helpful and welcomed.
Thanks in advance,
Dano
Thanks in advance,
Dano
I did notice that no one has mentioned to make sure you check your ground wire on the frame to the Bat. if it is corroded and not making good conection it will cause issues. That wound up being my main issue and other grounds that were improperly done such as the lighter and the radio. check your clock if it is still their that will cause a drain as well.
Marcus
