Vette is eating batteries
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
The diodes allow current to flow OUT of the alternator but not back IN. Kind of like a check valve.
Reconnect the POS cable back on the battery. You can disconnect the large red BATT wire on the back of the alternator and install the same DC Amp meter between the red wire and the Alternator BATT terminal. You should read ZERO AMPS if the alternator is good.
If its drawing current, the diodes are BAD.
You can have the alternator rebuilt. That way you know you have a good rebuild and the correct alternator when it done.
Bill
Last edited by Bill Curlee; Apr 5, 2014 at 07:38 PM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 778
Likes: 1
From: Chantilly VA
Thanks, I'll try that next. Yesterday I lost my alligator clip back behind the battery. Couldn't locate it. It just few off, so end of troubleshooting. 
I'll get another one at work. So I thought I would at least start the shine process. Into that now, nice day.
When I did hook battery and fuses back in. The pump on driver's seat started running like crazy, so I left that fuse out. Before I lost clip, I was down to 300mA still. It seemed as if it would change 10/20 mA. So something does not settle out.
Thanks for the help and info. I'll be back at it soon. Next nice day after a ride. The battery did not run down last night, so I figure I can enjoy a day or so driving.
I'll get another one at work. So I thought I would at least start the shine process. Into that now, nice day.
When I did hook battery and fuses back in. The pump on driver's seat started running like crazy, so I left that fuse out. Before I lost clip, I was down to 300mA still. It seemed as if it would change 10/20 mA. So something does not settle out.
Thanks for the help and info. I'll be back at it soon. Next nice day after a ride. The battery did not run down last night, so I figure I can enjoy a day or so driving.
