Battery Draining
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: halifax ns
Battery Draining
My father-in-laws 1978 indy pace car has a draining battery.
the battery is new, and fully charged but for some reason there is a drain killing the battery.
has anyone encountered this problem before and if so...what should i be checking ?
the battery is new, and fully charged but for some reason there is a drain killing the battery.
has anyone encountered this problem before and if so...what should i be checking ?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 6,470
Likes: 2
From: levittown pa. usa Even a bad day with my `Vette, is better than a good day at work
St. Jude Donor '10
my `87 kept killing the battery, & the mechanic told me it was a bad alternator. The car would drain even when it was shut off. I also had put a new battery in it right before I took it to him ( 3 days ) He said it would not hold a charge, & that when the alternator goes bad, it can also destroy the battery. I replaced the alternator, & went back to Sears, & they replaced the battery. So far, So good.
Ken :flag
Ken :flag
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Pull the negative terminal on the battery and place an ammeter (VOM test meter set to amps) between the battery neg term and the cable lug. This will allow you to measure the leakage current which should be less the 50 milliamps (my 87 draws 27 ma.). Then pull fuses one at a time and look for a sudden drop in leakage current. The circuit that fuse is on will then have to be checked for the offending device drawing the excess leakage current. Make sure at night that the map light and/or the overhead light isn't on. Does he have an aftermarket radio, audio amplifier, radar detector, car alarm? If so, they are suspect. Also, remove the output wire on the alternator (be careful not to touch the wrench to ground or you will harm your VOM, or you could disconnect the VOM and then remove the alternator wire).
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,474
Likes: 4
From: Tracy CA
Originally Posted by jfb
Pull the negative terminal on the battery and place an ammeter (VOM test meter set to amps) between the battery neg term and the cable lug. This will allow you to measure the leakage current which should be less the 50 milliamps (my 87 draws 27 ma.). Then pull fuses one at a time and look for a sudden drop in leakage current. The circuit that fuse is on will then have to be checked for the offending device drawing the excess leakage current.
I've got the same general problem...
....revived from the dead....
Elite Torch Red Member
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 57,805
Likes: 23
From: Exit 89 GSP,Lakewood,NJ The Land Of Mojo
Cental/South NJ Events Coordinator
CI 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12 Vet
CI-II Burnout & Drag Champ
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07
moving to "C3" where others who own the same generation may have a more detailed answer.
