Battery Drain ???

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Feb 18, 2014 | 05:47 PM

Electric Blue Vette

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Cruising

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From: Helen Georgia

Battery Drain ???

I have measured my 1989 Corvette Convertibles battery drain at .153 Amps (153 mA), is this within tolerance?

Background; trashed 1 new battery (dead cell) within 6 months of purchase. The measured current drain is at 153 mA, removal of each fuse caused no appreciable change in current drain (< 5mA). I thought I should get a drop at some point but it didn't happen.

Any thoughts???

Feb 18, 2014 | 07:04 PM

Kevova

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From: near the thumb in the mitten

Draw is too high. If pulling all the fuse out didn't make it go away. You need to see what is powered by a fusible link - Alternator is a possible cause. You need FSM if you haven't got one.

Feb 18, 2014 | 07:11 PM

Electric Blue Vette

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From: Helen Georgia

Fusible Link

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevova

Draw is too high. If pulling all the fuse out didn't make it go away. You need to see what is powered by a fusible link - Alternator is a possible cause. You need FSM if you haven't got one.

Thanks Kevova, I'll check it out. Forgive me for being so dense but what is FSM?

Feb 18, 2014 | 07:33 PM

Kevova

Le Mans Master

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From: near the thumb in the mitten

Factory Service Manual contains all the information to work on you car. They are much better than Chilton or Haynes.

Feb 18, 2014 | 07:45 PM

don hall

Safety Car

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From: SANTA CRUZ CA

Scroll down to step 9 (alternator) and test:

http://www.wikihow.com/Find-a-Parasitic-Battery-Drain

Feb 19, 2014 | 03:39 PM

Electric Blue Vette

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From: Helen Georgia

Altenator Test

Quote:

Originally Posted by seabright

Scroll down to step 9 (alternator) and test:

http://www.wikihow.com/Find-a-Parasitic-Battery-Drain

Thank You Seabright for the link to the alternator test procedure. My alternator checked out ok with no drop in current drain when the positive cable was removed from the alternator. So the search goes on.....

Interesting, today I started by checking the baseline battery current drain before I began, it read 103mA. This is a 50mA change from yesterday (153 mA) with everything else remaining the same. All lights off, switch's set to off position, key out of ignition. Can't figure out why the difference in baseline from one day to the next (internal battery resistance change)?

I noticed when the negative cable touches the battery post I hear a clicking sound at the motors for the hidden lights and they move slightly. I disconnected them and tested the current drain and it remained at 103mA, I thought I found the culprit but not so....

Feb 19, 2014 | 07:37 PM

ynot d

Instructor

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From: Lower Burrell Pa.

My '90 has 2 fuse blocks, the main one & an auxiliary-next to the radio receiver box. Did you pull the fuses on both?

Feb 19, 2014 | 11:13 PM

ddummitt

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From: Macon Ga

I and a shop chased the drain on my 95 for months. I took it into another shop and they found the door ajar switch on the driver side was not working all of the time. They added some washer to adjust it and no more problem.