71 521 electrical gremlin

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jayden71
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71 521 electrical gremlin

#1

Post by jayden71 » Thu Nov 28, 2013 9:05 am

So, my truck is basically all stock. Original L16 and all original wiring. I have added a tach and a stereo (no amp on stereo) and aftermarket gauges but, I try to leave the wiring alone as much as possible. I don't like electrical and I don't like rats nest wiring. Electrical fires are bad too...lol. Don't ask m how I know.... :| .

Charging system is working normal. 60amp external reg alt. Chg light works like it should too.

Anyways, on with my problem.

I park my baby in the garage now when I am gone for 18-22 days. The battery is only 1 year old. If I leave battery hooked up, when I get home it is dead. I make sure everything is turned off, gauge lights, interior light and stereo. It did this when I had no stereo installed too.

This last time I left I unplugged the Negative bat cable. It sat for 17 days. I just went out to garage, hooked up cable and had plenty of cranking power to start her up. Like I had a brand new battery.

So, I am thinking there is an electrical draw somewhere in the system. Not big enough to be noticed over a few days but after a couple weeks, the steady draw drains it enough to make dead bat. It will do this with a brand new battery as well. I put the one from my wifes crv in it once and, same results.

I don't mind just yanking the bat cable off but, does anyone have a clue as to where the draw may be coming from??
DRIVEN » Tue Nov 04, 2014 6:30 pm wrote:I think Bill might be gettin laid.
Ni10 » Wed Nov 19, 2014 7:56 am wrote: all Datsuns ran when parked.

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Re: 71 521 electrical gremlin

#2

Post by flatcat19 » Thu Nov 28, 2013 9:45 am

A guess would be the stereo because it has a constant memory 12V source going to it.

Is the stereo on a fused circuit?
You could remove that fuse next time to test that theory.

Do you have a good DVOM? One with a mA function?

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Re: 71 521 electrical gremlin

#3

Post by Ni10 » Thu Nov 28, 2013 9:54 am

if you got a volt meter this is what I would do.
pull / remove all the fuses, take a reading of the battery, come back in 1 hr and then check the volts. If their is a different in volts, then your starter is drawing.

It's not, then put all the fuses back in.

next step
Pull one fuse at a time and take a reading for each fuse. Should notice the voltage not dropping. That's where your draw is from.
Last edited by Ni10 on Thu Nov 28, 2013 12:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.
DRIVEN » Tue Aug 20, 2013 7:01 am wrote: Datsuns don't break down. They just get unscheduled upgrades.

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Re: 71 521 electrical gremlin

#4

Post by flatcat19 » Thu Nov 28, 2013 10:39 am

That's a lot of time spent.

mA function on meter.
Connect meter between + on battery and + cable. Note reading.
Come back in an hour. On your truck there should be little draw.
Anything above 0.2 mA will be a drain.

Remove fuses until source of draw is found.
If no change, then suspect other constant 12V loads.

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Re: 71 521 electrical gremlin

#5

Post by Ni10 » Thu Nov 28, 2013 12:10 pm

Thanks Keith. I changed it. That's info was a little lengthy. :fuu:
DRIVEN » Tue Aug 20, 2013 7:01 am wrote: Datsuns don't break down. They just get unscheduled upgrades.

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Re: 71 521 electrical gremlin

#6

Post by Laecaon » Thu Nov 28, 2013 12:32 pm

I would guess the Alternator/External Regulator. I hate those things. I hate them. I hate them. I hate them.

If you end up pulling all 6 fuses, and its still pulling .50mA or whatevers, look at your alt/reg.

There is no reason a car cant go 6 months without starting and start right out (excluding fuel stability problems), but how many do this with a fresh battery?

My car went on 2.5 months without starting, and it was fine.

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Re: 71 521 electrical gremlin

#7

Post by flatcat19 » Thu Nov 28, 2013 1:36 pm

Go IR. Easily hidable.
Jacob has a good point.

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Re: 71 521 electrical gremlin

#8

Post by draker » Thu Nov 28, 2013 1:38 pm

All points are valid!

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Re: 71 521 electrical gremlin

#9

Post by jayden71 » Thu Nov 28, 2013 5:16 pm

flatcat19 wrote:A guess would be the stereo because it has a constant memory 12V source going to it.

Is the stereo on a fused circuit?
You could remove that fuse next time to test that theory.

Do you have a good DVOM? One with a mA function?
Yes fused circuit and it did it when no stereo installed.

Thank you very much for the info guys!!

I think I haz a internal reg alt in my stash somewherz. If not I will buy one....been wanting to go that route for a while anyhow.
DRIVEN » Tue Nov 04, 2014 6:30 pm wrote:I think Bill might be gettin laid.
Ni10 » Wed Nov 19, 2014 7:56 am wrote: all Datsuns ran when parked.

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Re: 71 521 electrical gremlin

#10

Post by draker » Thu Nov 28, 2013 5:26 pm

dewitt!

& report back :-)

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Re: 71 521 electrical gremlin

#11

Post by izzo » Thu Nov 28, 2013 5:35 pm

Make sure your cig lighter isn't stuck in also. that will cause a draw lolz
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Re: 71 521 electrical gremlin

#12

Post by jayden71 » Thu Nov 28, 2013 5:45 pm

izzo wrote:Make sure your cig lighter isn't stuck in also. that will cause a draw lolz
Thot aboot that too but then realized I don't haz the lighter part ever plugged in. I think its lost in the glove box....I never go in the glove box. Just open it, throw somehtin in real quick and close it before anything falls out. :rofl:
DRIVEN » Tue Nov 04, 2014 6:30 pm wrote:I think Bill might be gettin laid.
Ni10 » Wed Nov 19, 2014 7:56 am wrote: all Datsuns ran when parked.

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Re: 71 521 electrical gremlin

#13

Post by datsunmike » Fri Nov 29, 2013 5:24 pm

521 should have a 28? amp alt. unless a 510 one swapped in. Pull the plastic plug in the back of it and see if that's the problem next time you go away.
My Datsuns, like good friends, have never let me down. At least in any way that was not understandable and thus fixable.

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Re: 71 521 electrical gremlin

#14

Post by Ni10 » Sat Nov 30, 2013 7:37 am

just going to drop this here for you Bill. Ok :fyea:



http://s138.photobucket.com/user/datzen ... p.jpg.html
DRIVEN » Tue Aug 20, 2013 7:01 am wrote: Datsuns don't break down. They just get unscheduled upgrades.

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Re: 71 521 electrical gremlin

#15

Post by flatcat19 » Sat Nov 30, 2013 10:54 am

Ni10 wrote:just going to drop this here for you Bill. Ok :fyea:

Image

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Re: 71 521 electrical gremlin

#16

Post by jayden71 » Sat Nov 30, 2013 1:07 pm

datsunmike wrote:521 should have a 28? amp alt. unless a 510 one swapped in. Pull the plastic plug in the back of it and see if that's the problem next time you go away.
Yes Mike, alt has been swapped
DRIVEN » Tue Nov 04, 2014 6:30 pm wrote:I think Bill might be gettin laid.
Ni10 » Wed Nov 19, 2014 7:56 am wrote: all Datsuns ran when parked.

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