Howdy All,
We have a small problem which you may be able to help me with.
If our '71 sits for 5-6 days, something drains the battery. It is completely stock. We have tried to be sure that everything is shut off,(including the radio).
Any direction, or ideas would be appreciated! ....
My best to you all,
Grizz

Grizz, does your car have the factory alarm installed? I had a problem with my 73 doing the same thing and it turned out to be the alarm. When I park it, I have to reach in after closing the door and turn the key on and then off again.
Another possibility is the battery itself. Get a load tester and see if the battery can handle the load. If not, replace it.
Of course there's always the possibility of a short somewhere in the wiring also. Good luck, Mark

Had this problem on mine and got frustrated trying to isolate it. I went out and bought a battery cutoff switch, which connects on the post. Now when I let her sit for a while I just use the switch and no more problems

Can't remember if my '74 had a fuse on the alarm or not. Look around to see if your alarm is fused. If it is, just pull the fuse and see if the problem persists. If so, look for something else.

Two other things to check....

1. Light in the storage compartment (behind the seats). One would stay on once in a while on my '72 and drain the battery. I just removed the bulb...problem solved.

2. Alternator...The '72 uses an internal voltage regulator and internal diode bridge. If one of the diodes are bad, the alt. will draw battery battery power back thru the bad diode to ground. Also if the regulator goes bad, it can also drain the battery. Remove the big red wire from the alternator (be sure to place something over the terminal on the red wire...it will be "hot" and will short out if it touches anything grounded) and unplug the small wires....then see if the car starts after sitting a few days...just don't forget to reconnect the wire before starting.

Good luck

|UPDATED|10/20/2002 8:19:24 AM|/UPDATED|

I dont know if you solved the problem yet. If not, Load test the battery or just disconnect it and see if it goes dead if it does replace it and your done. If not disconect the positive cable and hook an amp meter between the terminal and the cable. If it shows a draw pull out fuses one at a time when the draw drops check items in that circut. sorry hit the button again. Great looking car

|UPDATED|10/22/2002 4:13:46 PM|/UPDATED|

I had a problem with my '71 earlier this year. Make sure the amp meter is working. An easy check is to run the car at idle and turn the lights on. If there is no current drop the meter could be bad. I replaced mine and it took care of my mysterious short.

dlrshort

I have the same problem with my 80 Vette 5 or 6 days and the battery was too low to start the car. I replaced the battery but still had the same problem so I put a small trickle charger on it and just plug it in whae its going to sit for a few days.

Thanks glenn

Milkman,

Same problem with my 74. Bought a battery quick disconnect from Ecklers, a quick thumbscrew and the battery is disconnected until you need to use it again. Works great for me!

tcmcevoy said: Milkman, Same problem with my 74. Bought a battery quick disconnect from Ecklers, a quick thumbscrew and the battery is disconnected until you need to use it again. Works great for me!

Yeah, works great, but a pain in the butt to reach back there, scrape your knuckles and all trying to use it (I have one too). I still say you should trace down the source of the leak, it's better in the long-run. But for a quick-fix, I agree totally, get a quick-disconnect!