electrical draw
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,179
Likes: 100
From: cranford nj
electrical draw
I have a electrical draw, I have pulled the fuses and found it in the interior lights. Now I not the best when it comes to this and I know there is a lot on this circuit so any help to how to trace the problem would be a big help. It's a 71 sb 4sp coupe
Last edited by blue by you; Nov 16, 2015 at 10:27 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 2,365
Likes: 428
From: Cape Girardeau Missouri
What year?
Also the interior lights are on the CTSY (courtesy) circuit along with many other things. In general anything that requires constant power (ignition in "OFF" position) was and is put on that circuit. Even from the factory the CTSY circuit is pretty much a splice-filled mess that snakes throughout the entire cabin.
Also the interior lights are on the CTSY (courtesy) circuit along with many other things. In general anything that requires constant power (ignition in "OFF" position) was and is put on that circuit. Even from the factory the CTSY circuit is pretty much a splice-filled mess that snakes throughout the entire cabin.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 4,910
Likes: 698
From: grand rapids, lowell mi. area
maybe the glovebox light stays on ,or I think the burglar alarm is also on the same line ,if it is the alarm ,I think you can disconnect it between the seats in the console.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 2,365
Likes: 428
From: Cape Girardeau Missouri
Again, year does matter.
If you have a power antenna it is most likely in that circuit. If the nylon cord inside a factory style antenna is about to break (i.e. stretching slightly) it will not "kick" the down limit switch. The motor will stall and cycle on thermal overload. A defective limit switch in any power antenna antenna (either down or up) would do the same thing if stuck closed.
Do you have the courtesy light turn-off delay? If so the module is a well-known cause of excessive draw. Again year matters as I only know about 78+ which have a real glove box. In them you remove the glove box interior and find the delay module taped (it should be) to the wiring harness to the right and slightly above the glove box.
If you have a power antenna it is most likely in that circuit. If the nylon cord inside a factory style antenna is about to break (i.e. stretching slightly) it will not "kick" the down limit switch. The motor will stall and cycle on thermal overload. A defective limit switch in any power antenna antenna (either down or up) would do the same thing if stuck closed.
Do you have the courtesy light turn-off delay? If so the module is a well-known cause of excessive draw. Again year matters as I only know about 78+ which have a real glove box. In them you remove the glove box interior and find the delay module taped (it should be) to the wiring harness to the right and slightly above the glove box.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 6,842
Likes: 285
From: Palmdale CA
Do you have a multimeter? Because you could measure the current, even with the car off. Because you have a draw, that means that the circuit is using electricity and if it's using electricity, there is an electrical current running through it (and it could be any circuit, not just the one you're looking at).
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Racer
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 378
Likes: 19
I would start removing bulbs, check for changes in the draw after removing them one at a time. Hopefully it's in one of those circuits. If not, at least you started to eliminate variables. Would also use one of those battery disconnects that you see all the time at car shows until the offending circuit is located.
Swampeast Mike, thanks for the tip on the delay a source of draw. Was working on a '78 PC that has a battery draw and never did locate the cause.
Swampeast Mike, thanks for the tip on the delay a source of draw. Was working on a '78 PC that has a battery draw and never did locate the cause.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
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From: Orange Park Florida
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,179
Likes: 100
From: cranford nj
ok, so I went out to check out my problem, I disconnected the neg side of the battery and put the fuse back in got my test light and put on the neg terminal and cable and it lite up turned the headlight switch **** and it went out so I guess the dimmed is on the same circuit check to make sure the test light did not come on and it stayed off. So I will see if the battery drains in a day or so.
Thanks for all of you input
Thanks for all of you input