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Topic: bout had it with parasitic drain!!

in Forum: C3 Electrical

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Re: bout had it with parasitic drain!! (15/25)
5/10/12 10:53pm

Gunslinger
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Frederick, MD - USA

Vette(s):
1969 convertible L71 427/435 4-speed black interior

Joined: 9/8/2003
Posts: 3398

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.

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Re: bout had it with parasitic drain!! (16/25)
5/27/12 5:23pm

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

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

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

Joined: 7/11/2010
Posts: 415

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

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

lukesvette

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HOWELL, NJ - USA

Vette(s):
1979, Targa Blue (72 Color), Pace Car rear spoiler, L88 hood, Dark blue factory interior, 525HP 406, HD 700R4, 370 gears,Steeroids, composite rear spring, TT IIs wrapped in T/A Radials.

Joined: 5/18/2004
Posts: 6812

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

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Re: bout had it with parasitic drain!! (20/25)
5/28/12 10:17am

Adams' Apple

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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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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

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' Apple

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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1980 Coupe / Snowcrest White / L48, 350 / Comp Cam / Edelbrock Heads / Cyclone Intake / Holley Carb / Holley Fuel Pump / Patriot Headers / Dual Exhaust / Magnaflow Mufflers / 1964 Coupe / Riverside Red / L76, 327, 365hp

Joined: 8/17/2010
Posts: 173

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.

http://www.ecklerscorvette.com/corvette-circuit-board-interior-light-delay-timer-by-pass-1978-1982.html

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Chuck