1984 Electrical Problem
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Amityville New York
1984 Electrical Problem
To start off with Merry Christmas Guys.I got my corvette in August every month i have tried to figure out what is wrong with her. The car drains the battery whenever the terminals are on. I got the Battery and alternator checked and both checked out to be working. I also thought it was the aftermarket radio my grandfather put in, so i took it out and still it continues to drain. Do you guys have any ideas? please help me out i've ran out of options. I'm also 17 and my resources are limited. again Merry Christmas.
Last edited by Brxndon; Dec 24, 2015 at 06:29 PM.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 706
Likes: 47
From: Denver Colorado
The best/only good way to find the battery drain is to get a Volt-Ohm Meter (VOM) and test each of the circuits at the fuse box. A VOM is a basic electrical tool you will need in future to test many things so... get a decent one, they are not expensive. Hook up the battery, turn everything off and pull one fuse at a time from the fuse box, checking for current in each circuit. You expect current in the clock and engine control module (ECM) or computer circuits. If you find a current drain in other places that may be the problem. The security system has a fuse behind the center console panel Driver Information Center (DIC) and is a bit involved to get to. Once the checks are done, you can identify the area of the problem and go from there. Let us know the results of your fuse box test. What do you mean "terminals are off"? If the battery drains quickly while both terminals are off it has an internal short or is so dirty that current is flowing between the external terminals. 
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Amityville New York
The best/only good way to find the battery drain is to get a Volt-Ohm Meter (VOM) and test each of the circuits at the fuse box. A VOM is a basic electrical tool you will need in future to test many things so... get a decent one, they are not expensive. Hook up the battery, turn everything off and pull one fuse at a time from the fuse box, checking for current in each circuit. You expect current in the clock and engine control module (ECM) or computer circuits. If you find a current drain in other places that may be the problem. The security system has a fuse behind the center console panel Driver Information Center (DIC) and is a bit involved to get to. Once the checks are done, you can identify the area of the problem and go from there. Let us know the results of your fuse box test. What do you mean "terminals are off"? If the battery drains quickly while both terminals are off it has an internal short or is so dirty that current is flowing between the external terminals.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 706
Likes: 47
From: Denver Colorado
OK so the first thing you need to do is isolate the circuits where there is a current drain when all switches are "OFF". That includes holding in the door switches as there is a delay timer on the interior lights which could give a confusing indication.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,953
Likes: 550
From: Mission Viejo CA
Are you sure all of the lights in the car are turning off when they should? Under-hood lights? Console light? Passenger sunvisor lights? Interior courtesy lights?
Does your horn work? Radio antenna? Headlight motors? Does your radiator fan work properly?
Anything else unusual about the car?
Does your horn work? Radio antenna? Headlight motors? Does your radiator fan work properly?
Anything else unusual about the car?
Last edited by Hot Rod Roy; Dec 24, 2015 at 07:09 PM.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Amityville New York
Are you sure all of the lights in the car are turning off when they should? Under-hood lights? Console light? Passenger sunvisor lights? Interior courtesy lights?
Does your horn work? Radio antenna? Headlight motors? Does your radiator fan work properly?
Anything else unusual about the car?
Does your horn work? Radio antenna? Headlight motors? Does your radiator fan work properly?
Anything else unusual about the car?
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 10,036
Likes: 346
From: Anaheim CA
You can find which circuit is using power by measuring the voltage across each of the fuses. It's going to be very small, so use the lowest voltage range. If there is a power draw on a particular fuse, the voltage will be VERY SMALL, so measure carefully. Remember that the interior lights will be on since the door is open.
See this video for help with your problem (the fuse voltage method starts at 11:30 in the video):
Usually a parasitic draw is caused by a motor that should turn off but doesn't. Likely suspects are the antenna, power seats or headlight motors.
See this video for help with your problem (the fuse voltage method starts at 11:30 in the video):
Usually a parasitic draw is caused by a motor that should turn off but doesn't. Likely suspects are the antenna, power seats or headlight motors.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 706
Likes: 47
From: Denver Colorado
You can find which circuit is using power by measuring the voltage across each of the fuses. It's going to be very small, so use the lowest voltage range. If there is a power draw on a particular fuse, the voltage will be VERY SMALL, so measure carefully. Remember that the interior lights will be on since the door is open.
See this video for help with your problem (the fuse voltage method starts at 11:30 in the video):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-wxG6U5TuY
Usually a parasitic draw is caused by a motor that should turn off but doesn't. Likely suspects are the antenna, power seats or headlight motors.
See this video for help with your problem (the fuse voltage method starts at 11:30 in the video):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-wxG6U5TuY
Usually a parasitic draw is caused by a motor that should turn off but doesn't. Likely suspects are the antenna, power seats or headlight motors.
The door lights being on is why I told the OP to hold in the door switch. Once the OP reports on the circuit(s) with a drain it should be easier to identify what is going on.
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