Battery being drained
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 3
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Battery being drained
I have a new problem with my 1986 C4. I drove it X-mas day with no issues. The next day the battery died over-night. I did a hard charge at 6 amps for 6 hours to get the battery back up. With the hood open, the hood inside lights would go dim for about 5 seconds, then bright again (it repeats). This constantly repeats, and when the lights go dim, there is a relay/breaker click sound that hits when the lights go bright again. It's the same when watching the interior lights when shutting the door. It's like something tries to operate, or short for 5 seconds, then a breaker trips off. Then back on again, then back off again. The sound is coming from the rear of the car only. What electronics are in the rear of the car, and where? Please Help. Thanks
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Battery being drained
My 86 C4 is bone stock. I plan to start pulling fuses to see if the repeating power drain is found, but I wonder what kind of electronics are in the rear of the car making the on-of click noise? Any ideas? Thanks
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,751
Likes: 276
From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
I have a new problem with my 1986 C4. I drove it X-mas day with no issues. The next day the battery died over-night. I did a hard charge at 6 amps for 6 hours to get the battery back up. With the hood open, the hood inside lights would go dim for about 5 seconds, then bright again (it repeats). This constantly repeats, and when the lights go dim, there is a relay/breaker click sound that hits when the lights go bright again. It's the same when watching the interior lights when shutting the door. It's like something tries to operate, or short for 5 seconds, then a breaker trips off. Then back on again, then back off again. The sound is coming from the rear of the car only. What electronics are in the rear of the car, and where? Please Help. Thanks
Check the antenna, listen for a click every so often.
If the antenna does not retract fully and open the contacts, the antenna motor will try to run and click on overload repeatedly it has a constant 12 volt supply.
Sometimes it would do that not every time but it has done it a few times over the years.
Happened to my 85 fine one day, flat the next.
Just needed to grease the antenna assembly from binding.
I now have a switch to cut power to the antenna motor when not using the car for a while.
Good luck
Last edited by gerardvg; Jan 8, 2019 at 04:01 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Clifton Park, NY ............Clearwater, FL ... 85 Original Owner
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Battery Being Drained
Hi
Check the antenna, listen for a click every so often.
If the antenna does not retract fully and open the contacts, the antenna motor will try to run and click on overload repeatedly it has a constant 12 volt supply.
Sometimes it would do that not every time but it has done it a few times over the years.
Happened to my 85 fine one day, flat the next.
Just needed to grease the antenna assembly from binding.
I now have a switch to cut power to the antenna motor when not using the car for a while.
Good luck
Check the antenna, listen for a click every so often.
If the antenna does not retract fully and open the contacts, the antenna motor will try to run and click on overload repeatedly it has a constant 12 volt supply.
Sometimes it would do that not every time but it has done it a few times over the years.
Happened to my 85 fine one day, flat the next.
Just needed to grease the antenna assembly from binding.
I now have a switch to cut power to the antenna motor when not using the car for a while.
Good luck
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