Topic: bout had it with parasitic drain!!
in Forum: C3 Electrical
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Lifetime MemberModerator
Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20214
Vette(s): #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
Bruce, it's an '82....you bring up a good point, too. I don't think anyone had mentioned that before.
Joel Adams
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Lifetime MemberLodi, WI - USA
Joined: 9/25/2007
Posts: 340
Vette(s): 1972 Targa Blue, T-Top, Saddle leather, 350 auto,numbers match, all original except '69 factory side exhaust.
Previously owned: 1969 427, 390hp, 4sp, Riverside Gold coupe, factory side exhaust
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.
So I just installed battery disconnect and lived with it.
About two years ago I installed HEI distributor (with a gear tach drive) and....OLAH.....the battery drain is gone!!
Guess I solved the problem without realizing it. Now it can sit for 30 days or more and starts right up.
Just saying.
Dean
So I just installed battery disconnect and lived with it.About two years ago I installed HEI distributor (with a gear tach drive) and....OLAH.....the battery drain is gone!!
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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Oak Creek, WI - USA
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Vette(s): 1981 Great White Shark. Red Interior, 350/190 hp. PS, PB (SS), A/C CC, T-Tops. Served three years in Active Duty Army, then Retired Air Force after 34 years! Badger State Vettes Car Club. 175,000 Original miles!! Now own a 1998 C-5!
That light module could very well be the problem!!! Nah, it can't be that simple!!! Maybe??
Dan
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Phoenix, AZ - USA
Joined: 6/12/2011
Posts: 139
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,
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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Frederick, MD - USA
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Vette(s): 1969 convertible L71 427/435 4-speed black interior
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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Phoenix, AZ - USA
Joined: 6/12/2011
Posts: 139
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,
Started pulling fuses today
|UPDATED|5/27/2012 2:23:49 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
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|
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
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
Nobody ever waves when I'm driving the Explorer.
K Woody
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Phoenix, AZ - USA
Joined: 6/12/2011
Posts: 139
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,
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
Lifetime MemberHOWELL, NJ - USA
Joined: 5/18/2004
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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.
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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Lifetime MemberModerator
Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20214
Vette(s): #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
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.
Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56
My Link
(click for Texas-sized view!) NCRS
"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"
in Forum: C3 Electrical
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