Wiring Question & Battery Drain Issue

[kevin67c10]

Folks,

I am having a battery drain problem and I am not sure what is causing it. If anyone has any tips on troubleshooting these types of problems for a 1967 Chevy C10, let me know. The Generator Light is always on, so the battery isn't charging. One thought I had would be to remove fuses one at a time to see if there was a short in the wiring related to one of those fuses (essentially, if the generator light goes off with the removal of a particular fuse, I know where the problem lies..)

And see the attached picture - does anyone know what this wire goes to? This, to my knowledge, has never been attached..

Let me know - Thanks!

[jayharrell]

I think thats the brake warning light plug. Goes right on top of the perporsoning valuve in the picture there.

The drain problem i have to clue. maybe the inline fuses for the alt. There are two inside some rubber housing, inline, they look about like what your holding. One on ease side of the engine bay.

[LockDoc]

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As Jay said the wire is for the brake warning light in the instrument panel. You will see a small post sticking out of the proportioning valve, between the lines. It goes on there. I think if the front or rear brakes go out the warning light in the cluster is supposed to come on....

You might want to clean the post before you put it on.

As far as the battery drain I think the alternator could be shorted out inside. That might explain why it isn't working. If you remove the fuses one at a time and put a tester across that circuit it would tell you if you have a draw in it. If you don't find anything there try unhooking the alternator and see if the battery drains down.

Just some things to try.

LockDoc

[jayharrell]

An easy way to test if your alt if working is start the truck, then unhook the + bat cable. If it stays running, then your alt is good, if it dies, then your alt has died.

[68gmsee]

Originally Posted by jayharrell

An easy way to test if your alt if working is start the truck, then unhook the + bat cable. If it stays running, then your alt is good, if it dies, then your alt has died.

This is the way I've always tested my alternator on my old trucks..

fyi: I've been told not to do this on the newer computer controlled cars and trucks... ??

One thing you didn't mention is whether there have been any modifications on your truck. Like new style internal regulater alternator. If it still has the external regulator, that could also be at fault.

Also, google "finding a battery drain". There's some good info you can check out.

[Longhorn Man]

If the gen light is on when the engine is running, you need to check and see if the truck is charging.
You may not have a battery drain, just not charging back up.

[kevin67c10]

Looks like it is definitely a bad alternator.. Darn it!

Thanks for your help you guys..

Kevin