1986 Ground Issues
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,079
Likes: 1
From: Niagara Falls ON
1986 Ground Issues
Still trying to find parasitic drain. I have fixed several things that seem to work but something is still there.
I have the FSM. I was just looking at the car to trace everything and I found that the negative wire coming off of the battery is touching the steering mechanism under the hood...and the insulation has worn off exposing wires on the underside.
I will be fixing this but I was wondering if anyone out there better at electricity than we would know if this would be causing me problems or just something that I need to fix in my quest.
Thanks,
Bill
I have the FSM. I was just looking at the car to trace everything and I found that the negative wire coming off of the battery is touching the steering mechanism under the hood...and the insulation has worn off exposing wires on the underside.
I will be fixing this but I was wondering if anyone out there better at electricity than we would know if this would be causing me problems or just something that I need to fix in my quest.
Thanks,
Bill
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,013
Likes: 2
From: California City Ca
I had a starter cause a drain before took me a while to figure that one out.
My Wifes old SUV had a after market Car Alarm that caused a drain and she had a Amp go bad that did the samething.
Did you try to pull one fuse at a time and see if that stops the power drain.
My Wifes old SUV had a after market Car Alarm that caused a drain and she had a Amp go bad that did the samething.
Did you try to pull one fuse at a time and see if that stops the power drain.
Still trying to find parasitic drain. I have fixed several things that seem to work but something is still there.
I have the FSM. I was just looking at the car to trace everything and I found that the negative wire coming off of the battery is touching the steering mechanism under the hood...and the insulation has worn off exposing wires on the underside.
I will be fixing this but I was wondering if anyone out there better at electricity than we would know if this would be causing me problems or just something that I need to fix in my quest.
Thanks,
Bill
I have the FSM. I was just looking at the car to trace everything and I found that the negative wire coming off of the battery is touching the steering mechanism under the hood...and the insulation has worn off exposing wires on the underside.
I will be fixing this but I was wondering if anyone out there better at electricity than we would know if this would be causing me problems or just something that I need to fix in my quest.
Thanks,
Bill
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,079
Likes: 1
From: Niagara Falls ON
Pulled all the fuses and no problem. When I get electrical gremlins it is always something that doesn't blow a fuse. I checked earlier by seeing what the draw was on the battery and it was fine. Then, I started the car and noticed that every now and then the digital display on the climate control would flicker. I do not believe this is a problem with the head unit because it is newer and because of other electrical ground problems that I have had.
Will keep checking. I just thought that if the negative cable was worn through that this might be the source of all my grief.
Will keep checking. I just thought that if the negative cable was worn through that this might be the source of all my grief.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,013
Likes: 2
From: California City Ca
Pull the power wire off the alternator and see if you still have a power draw if not do the same with the Starter wire from the starter.
If you pulled all the fuses and still have a draw I would take a look at the starter my self.
The battery needed to starts and store power for the car the car runs off the alternator.
Both of them dont realy have a fuse more or less yes they should have a fuseable link but unless something is shorting out it not going to blow.
I assume you made sure the all the cells in the battery are good.
If you pulled all the fuses and still have a draw I would take a look at the starter my self.
The battery needed to starts and store power for the car the car runs off the alternator.
Both of them dont realy have a fuse more or less yes they should have a fuseable link but unless something is shorting out it not going to blow.
I assume you made sure the all the cells in the battery are good.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,853
Likes: 8
From: Westerly RI
Still trying to find parasitic drain. I have fixed several things that seem to work but something is still there.
I have the FSM. I was just looking at the car to trace everything and I found that the negative wire coming off of the battery is touching the steering mechanism under the hood...and the insulation has worn off exposing wires on the underside.
I will be fixing this but I was wondering if anyone out there better at electricity than we would know if this would be causing me problems or just something that I need to fix in my quest.
Thanks,
Bill
I have the FSM. I was just looking at the car to trace everything and I found that the negative wire coming off of the battery is touching the steering mechanism under the hood...and the insulation has worn off exposing wires on the underside.
I will be fixing this but I was wondering if anyone out there better at electricity than we would know if this would be causing me problems or just something that I need to fix in my quest.
Thanks,
Bill
You can look for the drain circuit by circuit- disconnect the battery ground cable and connect an ammeter from the battery terminal to the disconnected cable, or other good ground. Be sure the interior lights and underhood lights are off. There should be negligible current on the meter. If there is more than that, pull fuses one at a time until the meter drops. That would be the problem circuit. As stated, the drain could also be on a circuit that is not fused- starter or alternator., for example.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,079
Likes: 1
From: Niagara Falls ON
Thanks!
While I was wrapping the ground wire with electrical tape I noticed a small blue wire coming out of the loom near it. Same thing, it was hanging out of the bottom (not normally seen unless you are like me and specifically looking) Not sure what the wire was but blue is often associated with positive current so that may be where the draw was.
The draw didn't happen all of the time. Mostly when really humid or when wet after washing or rain. Other times the car was fine. Perhaps this is where the problem was.
Bill
While I was wrapping the ground wire with electrical tape I noticed a small blue wire coming out of the loom near it. Same thing, it was hanging out of the bottom (not normally seen unless you are like me and specifically looking) Not sure what the wire was but blue is often associated with positive current so that may be where the draw was.
The draw didn't happen all of the time. Mostly when really humid or when wet after washing or rain. Other times the car was fine. Perhaps this is where the problem was.
Bill
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,616
Likes: 111
what kind of volts does your alternator produce? should be 14.7 or so until it gets hot......drop off somewhat then.......when my alternator went, it was caused a draw like something terrible in my 85 when it just sat......
but that does not sound entirely like your problem since you seem to have an intermittent problem, not constant.....
but that does not sound entirely like your problem since you seem to have an intermittent problem, not constant.....
Pro
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 678
Likes: 0
From: Oslo, Norway
Hi I have an 85 and thats not that diffeent from the 85.
There are some places where I have found can drain the battery .
1 is the lights for the engine room. Think there are quicksilver switches there and some times a quicksilver pearl can get stuck and the lights stand on all time.
2 The same is for the for the console room light.
3. Then the reaon for my problem was the courtesy light dimmer electronics. I removed the fuse for the courtesy light which is also for the radio.. If this is the problem Corvette Central deliver a new version of the discontinued by GM
There are some places where I have found can drain the battery .
1 is the lights for the engine room. Think there are quicksilver switches there and some times a quicksilver pearl can get stuck and the lights stand on all time.
2 The same is for the for the console room light.
3. Then the reaon for my problem was the courtesy light dimmer electronics. I removed the fuse for the courtesy light which is also for the radio.. If this is the problem Corvette Central deliver a new version of the discontinued by GM
