71 521 electrical gremlin

[jayden71]

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??

[flatcat19]

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?

[Ni10]

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.

[flatcat19]

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.

[Ni10]

Thanks Keith. I changed it. That's info was a little lengthy.

[Laecaon]

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.

[flatcat19]

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

[draker]

All points are valid!

[jayden71]

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.

[draker]

dewitt!

& report back :-)

[izzo]

Make sure your cig lighter isn't stuck in also. that will cause a draw lolz

[jayden71]

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.

[datsunmike]

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.

[Ni10]

just going to drop this here for you Bill. Ok



http://s138.photobucket.com/user/datzen ... p.jpg.html

[flatcat19]

just going to drop this here for you Bill. Ok

[jayden71]

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