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Topic: bout had it with parasitic drain!!

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bout had it with parasitic drain!! (1/25)
 5/7/12 9:51pm
chronos51
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Phoenix, AZ - USA

Vette(s):
1982 corvette crossfire production numer C5101985. Color is silver and claret. All original numbers match. slight mods to crossfire for better efficiancy and power balanced and added fuel pressure assembly between throttle bodies,


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so Ive replaced the battery, had alt rebuilt, had starter rebuilt. discontected amp still have a drain on my bat. Bat holds a charge if not hooked up to car. didnt have this issue last summer while driving it.
now i drive it and just letting it sit during the day at work the bat is dead enough so it doesnt start it.
 
rechecked all wires i had to repair, ground wire from radio was on cig lighter, bat main ground wire not grounding right, still no luck. did a light test at bat but the car destroyed the test light, it hooking it up with the doors shut windows down between ground wire and bat.
 
any thoughts as to were else to check?
 
is my ecm going out on me an pulling too much power to maintain its memory? am at a loss here and am grasping at straws.
 
 
 


|UPDATED|5/7/2012 6:51:27 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


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Re: bout had it with parasitic drain!! (2/25)
 5/7/12 10:11pm
Bobbi's78Lifetime Member
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Coatesville, PA - USA

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Good Luck - Chased the same type of problem, checked everything, including removing the LoJack device we found under the dash over the glove box & then gave up.  Installed a battery disconnect.  No more dead Battery Smile

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Re: bout had it with parasitic drain!! (3/25)
 5/7/12 10:13pm
danascar
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Germansville, PA - USA

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Put volt meter between pos. battery cable and battery. With a drain it should show battery voltage. No drain, no voltage. Pull 1 fuse at a time until volt meter shows zero and when that happens it will at least show you which circuit is causing the drain, that will narrow it down quite a bit.

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Re: bout had it with parasitic drain!! (4/25)
 5/7/12 10:36pm
chronos51
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Phoenix, AZ - USA

Vette(s):
1982 corvette crossfire production numer C5101985. Color is silver and claret. All original numbers match. slight mods to crossfire for better efficiancy and power balanced and added fuel pressure assembly between throttle bodies,


Joined: 6/12/2011
Posts: 139

yea havent tried that yet.
was considering doing that this friday.
also was thinking about checking the wiper switch, read someplace that their's an over ride some where under the dash and if it was used to change the wipers it would create a drain.
i just got fed up with it and didnt even touch it sunday.
 
thanks for the imput.
 
 


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Re: bout had it with parasitic drain!! (5/25)
 5/7/12 10:39pm
chronos51
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Phoenix, AZ - USA

Vette(s):
1982 corvette crossfire production numer C5101985. Color is silver and claret. All original numbers match. slight mods to crossfire for better efficiancy and power balanced and added fuel pressure assembly between throttle bodies,


Joined: 6/12/2011
Posts: 139

Bobbi's78 said: Good Luck - Chased the same type of problem, checked everything, including removing the LoJack device we found under the dash over the glove box & then gave up.  Installed a battery disconnect.  No more dead Battery Smile



so disconnecting the bat wont harm the ecm? losing memory and having to reset itself frequently wont mess it up? on my 82?

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Re: bout had it with parasitic drain!! (6/25)
 5/7/12 11:04pm
Adams' AppleLifetime Member
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Duncanville, TX - USA

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#1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas


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Using a dis-connect should not harm the ECM. I was gunna suggest disconnecting the ECM to see if that was causing the drain.
Be careful installing a meter(or your test light) between the batt and the cable....if the draw is very high, you can ruin your meter quickly. You need a meter with a high-amp setting, and protection. Most multimeters will handle around 10 amps, I think..some less than that. I would definitely use a jumper with an inline fuse on the meter end....

My '74 don't have any electronic crap on it...and it will drain the battery in a few days if not disconnected...most of these old cars will.


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Re: bout had it with parasitic drain!! (7/25)
 5/7/12 11:16pm
DejabluLifetime Member
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Like a lot of other older vette owners, I also use a battery disconnect whenever I shut it down.  It's such a habit that I even disconnect it when I park for a short time.  I troubleshot it and went thru 2 batteries before I finally figured out to just disconnect it. Angry  I guess it's just one of the prices we have to pay.  Cry

Larry


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Re: bout had it with parasitic drain!! (8/25)
 5/7/12 11:22pm
dskopp
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Oak Creek, WI - USA

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1981 Great White Shark. Red Interior, 350/190hp. PS, PB (SS), A/C CC, T-Tops, Going to remain as Stock as possible. Served three years in Active Duty Army, then Retired Air Force after 34 years! Badger State Vetts Car Club. 175,000 Original miles!!


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I once had a drain on my 81.  Disconnecting the ECM will not do any harm to it.  My drain was caused by a bad diode in the alternator!!  I am not saying that is your problem but y0u have something that is pulling voltage.  P.M. me your email address, I have have some info that could help!!
 
Dan


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Re: bout had it with parasitic drain!! (9/25)
 5/8/12 6:16am
crossfire1982
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Cramerton, NC - USA

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I installed a battery disconnect on my 82 several years back.  I use it when parking the car at night or for extended periods.  I have seen no ill effects on the ecm at all.   In addition to helping with the battery drain problem it will decrease the fire danger in 30 year old wiring. 
Re: bout had it with parasitic drain!! (10/25)
 5/8/12 10:04am
Gunslinger
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Frederick, MD - USA

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Depending on what year your car is, it may have a courtesy light module.  After enough time they tend to go bad and drain your battery.  I had that problem with the '78 I used to own.  Early '78s have them mounted by the fusebox.  Late '78s and following cars had them behind the glove box.  It's a flat orange connector.

When I had my '78 the battery kept running down.  One night I happened to notice the interior lights on in the car...the module was sometimes not turning the lights off after twenty seconds as designed or turning on and staying on at odd times.  I replced the module...no more problems.
Re: bout had it with parasitic drain!! (11/25)
 5/8/12 11:51am
Adams' AppleLifetime Member
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Duncanville, TX - USA

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Bruce, it's an '82....you bring up a good point, too. I don't think anyone had mentioned that before.

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Re: bout had it with parasitic drain!! (12/25)
 5/8/12 6:36pm
TargaBlue72Lifetime Member
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Lodi, WI - USA

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Many years ago I had a drain in my 72.  Couldn't leave it sit for more than 5 or 6 days and the battery would go dead.Unhappy  So I just installed battery disconnect and lived with it.Approve

About two years ago I installed HEI distributor (with a gear tach drive) and....OLAH.....the battery drain is gone!!Smile  Guess I solved the problem without realizing it.  Now it can sit for 30 days or more and starts right up.

Just saying.

Dean






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Re: bout had it with parasitic drain!! (13/25)
 5/8/12 9:37pm
dskopp
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Oak Creek, WI - USA

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1981 Great White Shark. Red Interior, 350/190hp. PS, PB (SS), A/C CC, T-Tops, Going to remain as Stock as possible. Served three years in Active Duty Army, then Retired Air Force after 34 years! Badger State Vetts Car Club. 175,000 Original miles!!


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That light module could very well be the problem!!!   Nah, it can't be that simple!!!  Maybe??
Dan


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Re: bout had it with parasitic drain!! (14/25)
 5/10/12 9:39pm
chronos51
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Phoenix, AZ - USA

Vette(s):
1982 corvette crossfire production numer C5101985. Color is silver and claret. All original numbers match. slight mods to crossfire for better efficiancy and power balanced and added fuel pressure assembly between throttle bodies,


Joined: 6/12/2011
Posts: 139

Gunslinger said: Depending on what year your car is, it may have a courtesy light module.  After enough time they tend to go bad and drain your battery.  I had that problem with the '78 I used to own.  Early '78s have them mounted by the fusebox.  Late '78s and following cars had them behind the glove box.  It's a flat orange connector.

When I had my '78 the battery kept running down.  One night I happened to notice the interior lights on in the car...the module was sometimes not turning the lights off after twenty seconds as designed or turning on and staying on at odd times.  I replced the module...no more problems.



could very well be, the circut board is over 30 years old. I will check it as well as test the resistors and current on the board and replace them if they need replaced or just replace the board if needed.
I now have a few good leads and some really good ideas. Im also going to check the wiring on the rear courtesy light under the car for the spare tire area, I my have some bad wires after 30+ years

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Re: bout had it with parasitic drain!! (15/25)
 5/10/12 10:53pm
Gunslinger
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chronos51 said:Im also going to check the wiring on the rear courtesy light under the car for the spare tire area, I my have some bad wires after 30+ years


The spare tire light is part of the courtesy light circuit.  If it's on it's another indicator of a bad courtesy light module.
Re: bout had it with parasitic drain!! (16/25)
 5/27/12 5:23pm
chronos51
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Phoenix, AZ - USA

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1982 corvette crossfire production numer C5101985. Color is silver and claret. All original numbers match. slight mods to crossfire for better efficiancy and power balanced and added fuel pressure assembly between throttle bodies,


Joined: 6/12/2011
Posts: 139

Started pulling fuses today
I am using a auto volt meter to diagnose the drain
 
I pulled the courtesy  delay unit and inspected it for issues. the circut board looks ok no burn marks or popped resistors.
 
so I started with the courtesy fuse and checked the bat. it was dropping in charge 11.89, 11.87, 11.89 and so forth within a second it dropped from 11.89 to 11.80
 
so I left the pulled fuse out and pulled the Theft fuse.... reading 11.78 and holding not dropping in charge. so ive got a short in the security system to start with after ten min i checked the charge and its dropped to 11.71
the drop isnt as fast as it was with the fuse in. I will up date this as I go.
Time to pull some more fuses until i get no drain.
 
pulled one fuse at at time, replaced fuses after checking for drain. popped the ecm fuse as well the ecm, the ecm is a reman unit Im uncertian if its the correct ecm or the upgraded 84 one. the chips are the only thing that need changed to my understanding.
 
behind passanger seat under rear compartment ( yes i went looking for spiced wires) their is a set of plug ins for what is unknown to me, one plug in had 3 wires comming off of it but only 1 of the three wires connected the others cut. the only wire remaing was a gray wire. I unplugged the pigtail and watched my amp meter go from 10.56 to 11.22 I believe this is the area I need to figure out what is what and why two of the three wires are no longer attached to pigtail. near the unit the other two wires are attached to a differant pigtail I can see where it was spliced!!!
 
marcus


|UPDATED|5/27/2012 2:23:49 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


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Re: bout had it with parasitic drain!! (17/25)
 5/27/12 6:59pm
kwoody
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Tucson, AZ - USA

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1982 Black/Tan Leather Build Code C09E Bronze TTop CrossFire Fuel Injection L83 85 Fuel Pump Auto Axle 2.72 Firestone Firehawk Indy500


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Hi Marcus,

I would look at the O2 sensor.  It is a common improvement on '82s to install a heated O2 sensor. It will get the O2 signal going to the ECM soon after start so, the system gets into and stays in closed loop mode.  I have one but, have not installed it yet.  I'm looking for a switched power source and since Baby is running well, I plan to wait until the O2 sensor needs to be replaced before installing the new heated version.

It may be that your drain is there.


Just a thought. Good Luck


Keith



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Re: bout had it with parasitic drain!! (18/25)
 5/28/12 1:47am
chronos51
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Phoenix, AZ - USA

Vette(s):
1982 corvette crossfire production numer C5101985. Color is silver and claret. All original numbers match. slight mods to crossfire for better efficiancy and power balanced and added fuel pressure assembly between throttle bodies,


Joined: 6/12/2011
Posts: 139

so I got on the Die hard battery site and looked up maint specs on my battery. my battery isnt holding a charge so Im gonna head down tuesday and have it replaced. with my bat tender on it at full charge with the battery disconected from the car compleatly the amp meter acrossed the posts shows it discharging. I think I have a bad cell in the bat. so with a new one I can start this process again

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Re: bout had it with parasitic drain!! (19/25)
 5/28/12 9:23am
lukesvetteLifetime Member
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HOWELL, NJ - USA

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My battery drain days have improved over time - I think the factory alarm was the biggest factor. I also replaced all of the grounding straps on the car and added a couple extras. Cleaned all of the mounting areas...

Car parked for a month and will turn over. In the winter I do keep her on a battery tender...

Paul
Re: bout had it with parasitic drain!! (20/25)
 5/28/12 10:17am
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chronos51 said: 
behind passenger seat under rear compartment ( yes i went looking for spiced wires) their is a set of plug ins for what is unknown to me, one plug in had 3 wires coming off of it but only 1 of the three wires connected the others cut. the only wire remaining was a gray wire. I unplugged the pigtail and watched my amp meter go from 10.56 to 11.22 I believe this is the area I need to figure out what is what and why two of the three wires are no longer attached to pigtail. near the unit the other two wires are attached to a different pigtail I can see where it was spliced!!!


What colors are the other wires in that connector? The only grey wires I see in the wiring diagram for the rear compartment area are for the power door locks.
Not sure on the '82s, but earlier cars had the alarm system relay back there, too, but I think the '82 had the relay under the shifter console.



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Re: bout had it with parasitic drain!! (21/25)
 5/28/12 8:13pm
chronos51
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Phoenix, AZ - USA

Vette(s):
1982 corvette crossfire production numer C5101985. Color is silver and claret. All original numbers match. slight mods to crossfire for better efficiancy and power balanced and added fuel pressure assembly between throttle bodies,


Joined: 6/12/2011
Posts: 139

black and green and they are re routed in another plug. I know the alarm system works ive set it off before but I think the short thats draining an already bad battery that Sears wont replace because the previous owner had it replaced 3 times in less than 4 years.
so I am stuck with a battery that has a shorted cell on it until I afford to get another one.
 
I really need to locate the drain and from what I diagnosed its in the security system somplace. so at least ive somewhat narrowed it down.


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Re: bout had it with parasitic drain!! (22/25)
 5/28/12 10:42pm
Adams' AppleLifetime Member
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Duncanville, TX - USA

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#1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas


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Do you have a wiring diagram for your car? If not, I can e-mail ya one...

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Re: bout had it with parasitic drain!! (23/25)
 5/29/12 7:52pm
CCasey
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New Albany, OH - USA

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For whatever it's worth, I recently replaced my Courtesy Light Delay Module in my '80 with a by-pass module from Ecklers.  It was real easy to install and it works great.  Lights come on when doors are open and go off immediately when doors are closed.
 


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Re: bout had it with parasitic drain!! (24/25)
 6/2/12 6:15am
BobmoLifetime Member
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For what its worth, I had a similiar problem on an Old Jag.
I found the problem in a crappy installation job on the security system that didnt work anyway.
It also shorted out the ignition switch.
After I RIPPED out every last wire from the security system, Life was fine
Good Luck
Re: bout had it with parasitic drain!! (25/25)
 6/2/12 9:26am
lukesvetteLifetime Member
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HOWELL, NJ - USA

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Posts: 6812

Fixing a lot of work done by Bubba will straighten stuff out!!
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