Need Electrical Help!!!

[schwanz583]

Man, where do I start. The battery has a draw on it somewhere. This has been killing me. The previous reading was a .178ma. I replaced a relay that was bad, and that helped, now it has a .080ma draw... I thought the next thing would be the alternator or alt wiring, so i checked the alternator and it was good. Today I replaced the wiring and it is still the same.. I have pulled all 5 fuses, one at a time to try and see if that could locate the draw, but nothing changed on my DMM........ I am running out of options now, and am very frustrated.. Please, if there are any other suggestions, I'm all ears..

[thatdavidkid]

What are you working on? How old? Sometimes certain modules need a certain amount of time to completely turn off.

[keg65]

external voltage regulator, if it is the big black box type it is mechanical and could be sticking. Replace with electronic type.
Try unplugging it to see if draw stops.

[schwanz583]

Cool I will try that. The regulator is a big metal one, stainless kn color.

Car is a 1967 mustang 289 3spd.

[12second5.0]

I would also unplug the radio if it has any sort of memory. I have seen them cause problems before.

[Sonic Blue 85]

.08 m amps is a very small draw, it would take a while for that to drain your battery. The only things that should have power when the key is off are the dome lights, head lights, cigarrette lighter, flashers, brake lights, horn, possible radio mememory only if it is a modern sterio, the old AM/FM will only have power with the key on. The alternator or regulator could possibly draw amps.

[schwanz583]

The radio is not hooked up, the dome light doesn't work, neither does the horn or turn signals. The draw is much lower than before, but it will still be dead by morning. I will try out the regulator tonight and see what happens.

[Sonic Blue 85]

The radio is not hooked up, the dome light doesn't work, neither does the horn or turn signals. The draw is much lower than before, but it will still be dead by morning. I will try out the regulator tonight and see what happens.

Just disconnect the regulator and alternator. If it is going dead over night, you have more than a .08MA draw. A voltage regulator can switch on and causing a high draw after sitting, that could easily be your problem. Also don't forget the lights under the dash, some cars had lights in the doors, also the trunk light.

[schwanz583]

Ok, i replaced the regulator, and it still shows a draw.. Could the ignition be a source also? with the regulator, or alternator disconnected there is no draw at all. I replaced the alternator wiring, and the regulator and there is still a draw somehow. Do you think it would be worth taking to a auto shop that specializes in electric and have them look at it? I just discovered that the car has an aftermarket horn added ( which doesn't work) and disconnected the power and that didn't effect the draw.

[Sonic Blue 85]

What is the draw now? If it is in the range of .08 ma it should not be draining the battery. Try letting the car sit and see what happens. If the battery does get drained, either you are not reading the amp meter correctly, or checking it correctly or something is switching on and draining power after you test the system and is daining more amps. The wiring will not cause a drain while everything is off, unless it is shorted to ground, then it should pop a fuze or melt wiring, if it is not fuzed or have some form of circuit protector. Wiring with high resistance or bad connections will only increase amperage draw while a componet is being used.

[65mustangscott]

how do you keep charging it. Maybe its a bad battery thats not taking a charge when you think it is. Like Ron said .o8 would not be draining your battery overnight.

[schwanz583]

Yeah, it's a cheap orielly battery. But with it not being hooked up for a week, it still reads 12.59. The draw is still around .040 to .080. When I hook it up, the battery is dead the next morning then I have to recharge it.

[keg65]

well looks like you might have narrowed it down to the alternator?

[schwanz583]

well looks like you might have narrowed it down to the alternator?

I was hoping so, but I took it to autozone and tested it and it passed three times, so then I replaced the wires and it still has the draw. I just did some major work on the motor so when I have it hooked back up in a couple of days I will start working on it again