Something draining my battery? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

64shortc10 · 12-13-2011, 07:06 PM

I bought my 66 and have been upgrading things like the altanator. Voltage regulator, battery and cables. Cleaning up some of the wiring. And I can jump start my truck and drive it all around but when I come out the next day my battery is dead. Any common issues on these trucks I should look for?
Thanks guys
Tony from Norcal
Posted via Mobile Device

dmwphoto · 12-13-2011, 07:16 PM

put a test light between the positive cable and positive battery terminal (unhook the positive cable) and then pull fuses one at a time until you find the circut that is causing the draw.

NorthstarGMC · 12-14-2011, 02:04 AM

could be a loose ground on the charging system that isn't charging your battery.

1963c-10 · 12-14-2011, 10:41 AM

Did you unhook the battery before you installed the voltage regualtor? Very easy to short it out if you installed while battery hooked up. Could be the case why you can jump it and it'll run, but not recharging.

64shortc10 · 12-14-2011, 04:18 PM

Thanks guys I will try the light tester and battery trick by pulling the fuses one by one! I did install the voltage regulator with no battery hooked up. It seems like the battery is getting charged while it is running. By something is draining it over night. Thanks again. I'll keep trying.
Tony from Norcal
Posted via Mobile Device

1963c-10 · 12-14-2011, 04:27 PM

Yeah, your going to have to start poping fuses.

Bazooka · 12-14-2011, 07:49 PM

When using the testlight method if you havent found the problem after pulling the fuses one by one try unhooking the wire from your horn relay to the horn and see if that turns off the testlight. I had a horn relay go bad on me once and caused this problem. Drove me nuts for days till I figured it out. I also had the same problem on a different vehical it was a faulty voltage regulator..

dmwphoto · 12-14-2011, 07:51 PM

/\ /\ good advice

brokenspoke · 12-14-2011, 07:54 PM

Bad battery?

dmwphoto · 12-14-2011, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brokenspoke

Bad battery?

seriously doubt that, but it is possible. Some circut is staying powered. need to locate and fix.

dmwphoto · 12-17-2011, 07:05 PM

update?

Martin64 · 12-18-2011, 10:14 PM

I had a '69 with a bad horn relay that was draining the battery. It wasn't until the horn stuck on that I found the problem. As soon as I disconnected that relay the battery drain stopped.

old cruiser · 12-19-2011, 08:53 PM

Horn relay gave me some grief as well

12-13-2011, 07:06 PM	#1
64shortc10 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Winters, Ca. Posts: 1,069	Something draining my battery? I bought my 66 and have been upgrading things like the altanator. Voltage regulator, battery and cables. Cleaning up some of the wiring. And I can jump start my truck and drive it all around but when I come out the next day my battery is dead. Any common issues on these trucks I should look for? Thanks guys Tony from Norcal Posted via Mobile Device

12-13-2011, 07:16 PM	#2
dmwphoto Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Richmond, Va Posts: 573	Re: Something draining my battery? put a test light between the positive cable and positive battery terminal (unhook the positive cable) and then pull fuses one at a time until you find the circut that is causing the draw.

12-14-2011, 02:04 AM	#3
NorthstarGMC Registered User Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Michigan Posts: 44	Re: Something draining my battery? could be a loose ground on the charging system that isn't charging your battery. __________________ 1963 GMC Wideside powered by a LH2 32v Northstar

12-14-2011, 10:41 AM	#4
1963c-10 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: fayetteville nc Posts: 10,338	Re: Something draining my battery? Did you unhook the battery before you installed the voltage regualtor? Very easy to short it out if you installed while battery hooked up. Could be the case why you can jump it and it'll run, but not recharging. __________________ 1963 Short bed step side SBW 427 big block and borg warner T-16 HD 3 speed manual http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=519869 1963 Short bed fleetside BBW 348 1st gen big block w/Powerglide http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=619024 1964 Short bed trailer

12-14-2011, 04:18 PM	#5
64shortc10 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Winters, Ca. Posts: 1,069	Re: Something draining my battery? Thanks guys I will try the light tester and battery trick by pulling the fuses one by one! I did install the voltage regulator with no battery hooked up. It seems like the battery is getting charged while it is running. By something is draining it over night. Thanks again. I'll keep trying. Tony from Norcal Posted via Mobile Device

12-14-2011, 04:27 PM	#6
1963c-10 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: fayetteville nc Posts: 10,338	Re: Something draining my battery? Yeah, your going to have to start poping fuses. __________________ 1963 Short bed step side SBW 427 big block and borg warner T-16 HD 3 speed manual http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=519869 1963 Short bed fleetside BBW 348 1st gen big block w/Powerglide http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=619024 1964 Short bed trailer

12-14-2011, 07:49 PM	#7
Bazooka Keepin it old school Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Ca Posts: 672	Re: Something draining my battery? When using the testlight method if you havent found the problem after pulling the fuses one by one try unhooking the wire from your horn relay to the horn and see if that turns off the testlight. I had a horn relay go bad on me once and caused this problem. Drove me nuts for days till I figured it out. I also had the same problem on a different vehical it was a faulty voltage regulator.. Last edited by Bazooka; 12-14-2011 at 07:59 PM.

12-14-2011, 07:51 PM	#8
dmwphoto Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Richmond, Va Posts: 573	Re: Something draining my battery? /\ /\ good advice

12-14-2011, 07:54 PM	#9
brokenspoke Registered User Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Anderson, Texas Posts: 535	Re: Something draining my battery? Bad battery?

12-17-2011, 07:05 PM	#11
dmwphoto Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Richmond, Va Posts: 573	Re: Something draining my battery? update?

12-18-2011, 10:14 PM	#12
Martin64 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Yuma, Az Posts: 477	Re: Something draining my battery? I had a '69 with a bad horn relay that was draining the battery. It wasn't until the horn stuck on that I found the problem. As soon as I disconnected that relay the battery drain stopped. __________________ Martin Gibson USAF Retired 1964(-ish) C10

12-19-2011, 08:53 PM	#13
old cruiser Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Camperdown Vic Australia Posts: 230	Re: Something draining my battery? Horn relay gave me some grief as well



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