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06-15-2005, 08:22 AM | #1 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 167
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Battery Draining When Car is Off
My '89 GT was in storage for about 3 years. I've recently put in a low mileage, stock 5.0 just to drive it around. I've also done the rear, brakes and suspension. Engine and tranny will be next and finally paint probably next spring.
After I put in the new/used engine, I noticed my battery would drain with the car sitting for a week or so. I figured it was the old alternator so I replaced it and installed a new Optima red top. I drove the car about two weeks ago and it was fine. I went to start it yesterday and the battery was DEAD. Now I'm hoping its something simple like my vanity mirror lights staying on. I charged the battery last night and I'll check the lights later today. But if not (and I realize this is an impossible problem to diagnose on a message board) do any of you have any ideas of what might be causing the drain. I also think that my old alarm system might be a problem. I want to take it to an alarm shop and have it removed. |
06-15-2005, 06:29 PM | #2 |
cranky old man
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Longview Texas
Posts: 683
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Re: Battery Draining When Car is Off
Turn everything off, pull the neg. batt cable and put an amp meter between the neg. batt terminal and the neg batt. cable clamp. It shouldn't read more than a few milliamps, just enough for a clock and/or the channel memory for your radio. If it's reading like 2 or 3 hundred milliamps then you have some kind of a drain, and you'll just have to disconnect one thing at a time until you find what it is.
Thats my 2 cents worth Rod
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Under Construction: 64 Falcon 372 cu in. stroker 1:72 rod ratio 6.250" rods (long rod), Comp Cams XE274 230/236 520/526 @ .050, Scorpion Rollers, Roush 200 irons, 10:1 Keith Blacks, Hedman long tubes, 750 Holley DP, Edelbrock Victor Jr., C4 3500 stall, gears and tires to be anounced. |
06-16-2005, 07:44 AM | #3 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 167
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Re: Battery Draining When Car is Off
Thanks, HotRoddin. Could you (or anyone else) recommend some type of list or order of things I should be disconnecting to check for the source of the drain.
Also, does anyone know if an Optima Red Top needs to be charged in a special way? I had it hooked up to a 2 amp charger the other night for a few hours and it wouldn't even turn the engine over. |
06-16-2005, 03:09 PM | #4 |
Gimme a Drink!
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: NYC
Posts: 694
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Re: Battery Draining When Car is Off
although hard to diagnose like this, i would strongly suggest disconnecting the old alarm as a first stem. just look for the non-stock looking wires, make sure they run to the alarm. you should be able to cut them and tape them up. if this is over your head have a shop do it, but i think this may be your problem
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1990 GT,stock T-5,K&N w/o air silencer,March underdrives,FMS wires,timing@14*,PA Perf 130amp alt,Steeda Tri-Ax Shifter,Steeda adj quadrant/clutch cable/firewall adj,Centerforce II clutch,o/r x-pipe,Magnaflow SS catback,g-load brace, subframes,Bilstein struts/shocks,Autometer gauges, 136k and running strong! |
06-17-2005, 02:51 PM | #5 | |
Rat Killer
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Cold ass Ohio
Posts: 1,143
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Re: Battery Draining When Car is Off
Quote:
If the alarm isn't the problem, start with the most likely stuff. Vanity lights, glove box light, dome light, etc etc. I'm gonna go find a post on my website (www.knights-rule.com) There was an excellent thread on this same problem. Be right back!
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d-Con Racing "Nothing fancy, just 347 inches of RAT POISON!" MICE need not apply..... |
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06-17-2005, 02:55 PM | #6 |
Rat Killer
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Cold ass Ohio
Posts: 1,143
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Re: Battery Draining When Car is Off
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d-Con Racing "Nothing fancy, just 347 inches of RAT POISON!" MICE need not apply..... |
06-17-2005, 03:29 PM | #7 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Nov 1998
Location: Houston, Tx.
Posts: 3,887
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Re: Battery Draining When Car is Off
Actually, you can just use a test light. With everything off, there should not be any current flowing from the + battery post to the cable (alarm, clock, etc. disconnected and doors shut). If there is, then you may have a short somewhere. If that's the case, then just check one connection to the + battery one at a time to see which circuit is drawing amps ( lights the test lamp). Then at least you know which circuit is shorted or drawing amps. Trace it down from there.
Rev
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'66 Coupe, 306, 350-375 HP, C-4, 13.07 e.t., 104.8 mph, 1/4 mi. O.B.C. #2 '66 coupe |
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