Something Draining Battery - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

jkade · 11-01-2010, 11:21 PM

Something in my 86 is running the battery down. It just started all of the sudden and I have not added anything. Were would you start? It is dead if it sets for about 2 days.

Thanx!!!!

63chevyll · 11-01-2010, 11:29 PM

the first basic step is to disconnect the + batt cable (- cable works also) and see if you have a light spark when re-attatching and disconnecting,

OR

place a test light between the - batt Cable and the - Batt post (in series) and see if the test light comes on.

From there start disconnecting differnt things to see if light goes off,
Alt, fuses, rear lighting connector, radio, amp, ect. make sure you do this with the key off and door shut and the door switch disconnected so the dome light doesnt come on.

Once you find out what circuit its on then you can diagnose further

OR

use a multi meter(where the test light would be)...... on the 10 amp scale. You always start with high amps then work your way down to miliamps
But thats a little harder to explain.

red rumbler · 11-02-2010, 01:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 63chevyll

the first basic step is to disconnect the + batt cable (- cable works also) and see if you have a light spark when re-attatching and disconnecting,

OR

place a test light between the - batt Cable and the - Batt post (in series) and see if the test light comes on.

From there start disconnecting differnt things to see if light goes off,
Alt, fuses, rear lighting connector, radio, amp, ect. make sure you do this with the key off and door shut and the door switch disconnected so the dome light doesnt come on.

Once you find out what circuit its on then you can diagnose further

OR

use a multi meter(where the test light would be)...... on the 10 amp scale. You always start with high amps then work your way down to miliamps
But thats a little harder to explain.

second that and a dead give away is when you hit a bump something goes weak such as a stereo or lights ect. good luck electical gremlins can get agrivating

jkade · 11-02-2010, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 63chevyll

the first basic step is to disconnect the + batt cable (- cable works also) and see if you have a light spark when re-attatching and disconnecting,

OR

place a test light between the - batt Cable and the - Batt post (in series) and see if the test light comes on.

From there start disconnecting differnt things to see if light goes off,
Alt, fuses, rear lighting connector, radio, amp, ect. make sure you do this with the key off and door shut and the door switch disconnected so the dome light doesnt come on.

Once you find out what circuit its on then you can diagnose further

OR

use a multi meter(where the test light would be)...... on the 10 amp scale. You always start with high amps then work your way down to miliamps
But thats a little harder to explain.

Thanks for the tips!!! The cable does spark when I take it loose. I will try the test light and see what I can find out. Thanks guys for all the help. I will post when I figure out what it is.

Thanks, Kade

sixshooter798 · 11-03-2010, 01:18 AM

I was having the same problem. I don't drive mine everyday, so I installed a cut-off switch. The CD player doesn't show the right time, but I don't mind.

**N2TRUX** · 11-03-2010, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sixshooter798

I was having the same problem. I don't drive mine everyday, so I installed a cut-off switch. The CD player doesn't show the right time, but I don't mind.

You may not mind, but thats a band-aid fix. Keep in mind that it if you forget to turn your switch off, it could short out leading to a smoldering disaster.

87chevy.com · 11-01-2010, 11:35 PM

Like 63 chevy said, start with the altenator first and use the test light in series on the battery cable. since these trucks are stupid simple in the wiring aspect, maybe instead of pulling fuses, narrow down the area. Un plug the bulk head connector and see if the light goes out... if so, your problem lies witho ne of those 3 connectors, seperate them and plug them back in one at a time. process of elimination...

clint

63chevyll · 11-03-2010, 11:53 AM

does the truck have an aftermarket stereo?

Ive seen so many times the stereo is Hot all the time and will drian the batt after 2 days or so

walkerb · 11-03-2010, 02:43 PM

I had to disconnect my clock gauge. Because I dont drive the truck all the time. Work much better now.

GmtGmt · 11-03-2010, 03:09 PM

try discornet you Stereo it is usually the culprit 90% of the time if its aftermarket

11-01-2010, 11:21 PM	#1
jkade Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: AL Posts: 2,517	Something Draining Battery Something in my 86 is running the battery down. It just started all of the sudden and I have not added anything. Were would you start? It is dead if it sets for about 2 days. Thanx!!!!

11-01-2010, 11:29 PM	#2
63chevyll gets board easy....... Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 717	Re: Something Draining Battery the first basic step is to disconnect the + batt cable (- cable works also) and see if you have a light spark when re-attatching and disconnecting, OR place a test light between the - batt Cable and the - Batt post (in series) and see if the test light comes on. From there start disconnecting differnt things to see if light goes off, Alt, fuses, rear lighting connector, radio, amp, ect. make sure you do this with the key off and door shut and the door switch disconnected so the dome light doesnt come on. Once you find out what circuit its on then you can diagnose further OR use a multi meter(where the test light would be)...... on the 10 amp scale. You always start with high amps then work your way down to miliamps But thats a little harder to explain. Last edited by 63chevyll; 11-01-2010 at 11:30 PM.

11-03-2010, 01:18 AM	#5
sixshooter798 Desert Rat Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Mojave Desert Posts: 169	Re: Something Draining Battery I was having the same problem. I don't drive mine everyday, so I installed a cut-off switch. The CD player doesn't show the right time, but I don't mind.

11-01-2010, 11:35 PM	#7
87chevy.com BMW & ASE Master Certified Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 1,266	Re: Something Draining Battery Like 63 chevy said, start with the altenator first and use the test light in series on the battery cable. since these trucks are stupid simple in the wiring aspect, maybe instead of pulling fuses, narrow down the area. Un plug the bulk head connector and see if the light goes out... if so, your problem lies witho ne of those 3 connectors, seperate them and plug them back in one at a time. process of elimination... clint __________________ 1987 Silverado - L83 5.3 w/ 6L80e ,A/C,P/W,P/L,TILT, HID projectors, Wilwood C-10 Pro Spindles w/ 2018 silverado front brakes & C-5 Corvette Rear Disc Brakes 1999 BMW 528i - 5.7 LS1 w/ 4l60e, Ford 8.8 IRS w31 spline posi & FX-r projector retrofit New project: 2006 BMW x5 6cyl AWD to L83 6l80e 4wd to 2WD / RWD A poor man buy's it twice finally got my domain name back, 87chevy.com.... site rework in progress

11-03-2010, 11:53 AM	#8
63chevyll gets board easy....... Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 717	Re: Something Draining Battery does the truck have an aftermarket stereo? Ive seen so many times the stereo is Hot all the time and will drian the batt after 2 days or so

11-03-2010, 02:43 PM	#9
walkerb Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Location: Rochester NY Posts: 831	Re: Something Draining Battery I had to disconnect my clock gauge. Because I dont drive the truck all the time. Work much better now. __________________ 1973 k20 Suburban 350 1974 Custom stepside c-10 250 1975 Chevy stepside 454 1986 K30 Crewcab SRW 350 R.I.P- glimmertwin01- board member and good friend, you will be missed

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