Need Help with electric draw
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 154
Likes: 0
From: Brunswick Ohio
Need Help with electric draw
All of a sudden my battery keeps getting drained. I pulled the battery cable and put a test light in between the cable and the battery. Test light is on bright. I started pulling each fuse one by one, and the light never went off.
Correct me if am wrong by checking for a current draw this way, but I thought this would work. My problem now is I cannot find my battery draw. Any suggestions. Car is an 85.
Thanks
Correct me if am wrong by checking for a current draw this way, but I thought this would work. My problem now is I cannot find my battery draw. Any suggestions. Car is an 85.
Thanks
Last edited by Big Rat 427; Apr 23, 2008 at 08:29 PM.
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 34
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You need an amp meter.
Here's the article I used to find my problem.
http://www.carcraft.com/howto/116_05...ns/index1.html
Here's the article I used to find my problem.
http://www.carcraft.com/howto/116_05...ns/index1.html
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 35,065
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From: Bergen County, NJ Democrats, doing for the country what they did for Michigan
Yes, your test is correct. A amp meter will tell you more specifically how much current is being drawn, however, a bright light is not a good sign.
Are all the lights off, interior? Is the door closed? You do this with the key out of the ignition, right?
Are all the lights off, interior? Is the door closed? You do this with the key out of the ignition, right?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 154
Likes: 0
From: Brunswick Ohio
You need an amp meter.
Here's the article I used to find my problem.
http://www.carcraft.com/howto/116_05...ns/index1.html
Here's the article I used to find my problem.
http://www.carcraft.com/howto/116_05...ns/index1.html
TWISED - what am I looking for around the fusable links. what signs, etc.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 154
Likes: 0
From: Brunswick Ohio
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 35,065
Likes: 0
From: Bergen County, NJ Democrats, doing for the country what they did for Michigan
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 154
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From: Brunswick Ohio
OK, latest update... I am following wires, and off the battery cable there is a 3 way splice each with snap connectors. I assume these three are what feed power to the entire car while the main cable goes down to the starter. Well I unclipped all three each one at a time to see which on might have the draw. well with all three disconnected there is still a heavy draw. the only thing I believe still connected to the battery is the starter. So my best guess, and thats all I got right now, is the starter has a short in it. Have heard of starter shorting out, so I may pull and replace tomorrow. see if thats the problems. Agree/Disagree ?????
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,991
Likes: 5
From: The Pines South Jersey
OK, latest update... I am following wires, and off the battery cable there is a 3 way splice each with snap connectors. I assume these three are what feed power to the entire car while the main cable goes down to the starter. Well I unclipped all three each one at a time to see which on might have the draw. well with all three disconnected there is still a heavy draw. the only thing I believe still connected to the battery is the starter. So my best guess, and thats all I got right now, is the starter has a short in it. Have heard of starter shorting out, so I may pull and replace tomorrow. see if thats the problems. Agree/Disagree ?????
can you get to it to feel it?
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
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From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
The jump start bolt behind the battey has 8 wires and each wire has a fusible link. Remove the nut on this bolt, and with your light in series with the negative battery cable and the neg batt terminal, remove the wires one at a time. If the light goes out, follow that wire to identify the circuit/s it powers. If the starter is drawing current, most likely the starter solenoid is stuck closed because at the end of its stroke it forces two large copper conductors together that switch current to the starter motor. These conductors get black and pitted and sometimes stick together. If you want to use an ammeter, you will need one that has a full scale of 20 or more amps. GM says leakage current shouldn't exceed 50 milliamps. My 87 draws 27 ma. and I have no battery problems.
Also, at night connect the charged up battery and check for underhood lights, vanity mirror lights, door map lights, center console light. Don't leave the keys in the ignition because this keeps the anti theft circuit on. Do you have a radar detector or CB, aftermarket alarm, or radio or audio amplifier? Check em. One common problem is the seat adjuster switch stays on. Connect the battery up for half an hour and feel the seat adjust motors to see if they are warm.
Also, at night connect the charged up battery and check for underhood lights, vanity mirror lights, door map lights, center console light. Don't leave the keys in the ignition because this keeps the anti theft circuit on. Do you have a radar detector or CB, aftermarket alarm, or radio or audio amplifier? Check em. One common problem is the seat adjuster switch stays on. Connect the battery up for half an hour and feel the seat adjust motors to see if they are warm.
