Hello to all,

I noticed my courtesy light getting dimer and dimer each time I open my door. I had started my car yesterday and ran it for about 5 minutes and noticed the courtesy light getting back to normal brightness again.

I had the battery checked and recharged over at autozone on Monday.

And finally, before getting out, I always ensure that the radio, lights, and heater/ac are off. When I'm out I make sure the doors are correctly shut. So where's my "Casper Energy Sucker"?

Any suggestions on where I should check the source of the drainage?

Thanks.

cooltroop38576.8413194444

Welcome to Corvette ownership, Cooltroop!
Battery drain is pretty much a common, no-cost factory "option".
If you don't drive your 'Vette every day, the battery will discharge. The clock, horn relay, and alarm system are all using power, even with the key off. It's not a lot, but it will usually drain a batt. after a few days, unless it's a new batt., and then you might get a couple of weeks out of it.
My suggestion is to get a battery "quick disconnect", and disconnect the batt. if you're not going to be starting the car for a few days.
Another good tip is to get a "maintenence charger", like a "Battery Buddy", or similar, to keep the batt. charged all the time. These chargers don't put out very many amps, usually only .75 amp, so it won't 'boil' the batt.
You can check out any of the suppporting vendors here, like Mid-America, Bair's, Corvette America, etc. for these items, or even your local auto-parts place.
Now, if the batt. tests good, and it's dead after only a few hours, then you've got a serious drain problem, and that's not good.
Is this the case, or is it only after not starting it for a couple of days?

I've had the same problem in the past.  I use a battery disconnect whenever I park, and use a "float charger" over the winter to maintain the battery.  I got the charger at a Harbor Freight tool store for about $15.  Works great for me.

Larry

You have a short somewhere.  Take the fuse out for the clock, the radio memory, the courtesy lights and anything else aftermarket you may have.  The horn and the alarm will not take power unless activated.  Now, disconnect the battery ground cable and put a test light between the cable and the battery.  If it lights, you have a short.  Next, start taking out fuses until the light goes out.  When it goes out, the short is in that circuit.  

The dead battery is telling you that there is a problem.  The battery disconnect will solve it temporarily but it will not cure it forever.  The short will get worse and leave you stranded in a parking lot one day.  There is nothing more embarrasing than a dead Corvette parked next to a Ford.  Find and fix the short before your car burns.  It is like an infection in your toe; it will not get better until you fix it.

 

Many members in the past, including myself, have narrowed the battery drain down to the factory alarm. Not sure if you have one or if it was an option in 76. If so, simply disconnecting a large multi pronged relay located inside the console did the trick for several of us.

Hope you find your gremlin!!

Luke

After an interior resto, I started having the same problem. Turns out it was a courtesy light in the "glove box" (had never had one before). Wasn't pushing the pin down all the way. Tried velcroing a piece of cloth on teh underside of the door, but vibration worked it loose. Just took the bulb out - except for shows.