Topic: Something is Sucking the Juice Out!!!
in Forum: C3 Electrical
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all can look good till you put a load on it, I had a alternator show it was charging and a brand new heavy duty battery my idiot light would glow lightly when i got going, took it and had them test my system come to find out the alternator put out voltage but dropped current at higher speed.corvette takes a bigger alternator too plus a havy duty battery 

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Check teh clock. My 77 wouldn't start after 4-5 days and I found that the clock was drawing less than 1 amp continuously. this is almost imeasurable with all but a very sensitive meter.
If the clock doesn't work, it most likely is drawing current all the time.
If the clock doesn't work, it most likely is drawing current all the time.
Former Member
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BRADENTON, FL - USA
Joined: 8/4/2002
Posts: 669
Vette(s): 1972 convertible 350 auto trans, delux int, air, ps, pb, t/t wheel, pw, 79,000 org miles Rare one year only color
had a light stay on in the center rear compartment. ran the battery
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Former Member
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Lake Oswego, OR - USA
Joined: 12/29/2002
Posts: 355
Vette(s): 1968 Corvette T-Top Coupe, 427 L71, Rally Red Exterior, Saddle Interior
I can't remember if the 71 has a wiper door over ride switch, but if so and it is turned on, that will drain the battery in no time. I have a drain on mine as well, but by alt. gauge doesn't work so that is what I think my problem is. Currently using a battery cut off switch until I find time to tear the dash apart.
Mark
Mark
I truly can't believe that nobody has suggested trying to test for the location, or atleast the circuit that the drain is coming from.
1) Disconnect the negative batt cable & put a test light from the cable end to the batt terminal. If you have a door open (interior lite on) it will make the light glow bright. Close the door. A faint light is ok, probably just normal draw for the clock,etc. bright is no good, keep reading.
2) If you have a bright light glowing, then you need to pull out one fuse at a time to see when the light goes out. Once you have the correct fuse pulled, then you know the circuit to begin tracing.
3) Make a note of where every fuse goes & then pull them out EXCEPT for the one that was the cause of the shorted circuit.
4)This is where the fun begins, trace each wire. It sounds like fun 'cause it is,, really. Just take your time & be patient, it'll be there,,,somewhere. What you want to look for is voltage anywhere that's not on that circuit.
Hope that helps a little.
1) Disconnect the negative batt cable & put a test light from the cable end to the batt terminal. If you have a door open (interior lite on) it will make the light glow bright. Close the door. A faint light is ok, probably just normal draw for the clock,etc. bright is no good, keep reading.
2) If you have a bright light glowing, then you need to pull out one fuse at a time to see when the light goes out. Once you have the correct fuse pulled, then you know the circuit to begin tracing.
3) Make a note of where every fuse goes & then pull them out EXCEPT for the one that was the cause of the shorted circuit.
4)This is where the fun begins, trace each wire. It sounds like fun 'cause it is,, really. Just take your time & be patient, it'll be there,,,somewhere. What you want to look for is voltage anywhere that's not on that circuit.
Hope that helps a little.
EdelBrock Performer w/ 750 doub pumper,port/polished heads, triple cut valves w/4th cut down the throat of the exhaust valves, 286 Comp Magnum cam, 1.6 roller rockers, ball-peen pushrods w/guides, screw in rocker studs w/girdles, Comp double-roller chain, , hi-rise valves covers w/ spacer (needed for the girdles), Flowtech by Holley long-tube ceramic coated headers into Stage II pipes (no cats), chrome wire looms for the MSD 8.5 mm wires, MSD 50,000v coil kit w/advance springs, cap, rotor, module, steel-braided radiator,heater,vacuum hoses, Infinity Kappa 4x6 plates (dash), Sony Xplode 6 3/4" (rear), chrome T-stat housing, A-arm shields, B&M Hammerhead shifter
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corvette427 said: I can't remember if the 71 has a wiper door over ride switch, but if so and it is turned on, that will drain the battery in no time. ... Mark |
Mark - enlighten me please. The override switch on the '70-'72 wiper door kicks the vacuum system to open the door. I know there's a switch under the door to keep the wipers from starting until the door is completly open, but that shouldn't impact anything when the wiper switch is off. What am I missing here?
I would like to thank you all very much for your suggestions!!
We actually have fixed the problem....So, do you want to know what it was???.........No, really, do you want to know?? ............
AND THE WINNER IS!!!!
The clock......It was not working. I bought a rebuild kit from Ric's, and we are perfect now. It seems that when it didn't work, it actually drained more juice than it should of!!
Thanks again for ALL your input!! I really appreciate everyone's help..
Drive Safely..."Snow is finally gone in Michigan"
GRIZZ
We actually have fixed the problem....So, do you want to know what it was???.........No, really, do you want to know?? ............
AND THE WINNER IS!!!!
The clock......It was not working. I bought a rebuild kit from Ric's, and we are perfect now. It seems that when it didn't work, it actually drained more juice than it should of!!
Thanks again for ALL your input!! I really appreciate everyone's help..
Drive Safely..."Snow is finally gone in Michigan"
GRIZZ

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Former Member
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Lake Oswego, OR - USA
Joined: 12/29/2002
Posts: 355
Vette(s): 1968 Corvette T-Top Coupe, 427 L71, Rally Red Exterior, Saddle Interior
Jim
Sorry for the delayed response, been off line for a while. In regards to the override switch, on page 20 of the owners manual (1968) it states"CAUTION: Never leave the override swith in the On position since this will discharge the battery". They don't list an explanation why, but on my car I have an override idiot light on the center console. When the switch is turned on, this light is on and I'm guessing that is what they are talking about. The bulb is the same size as the other dash lights and overnight could probably drain quite a bit of the juice.
Mark
Sorry for the delayed response, been off line for a while. In regards to the override switch, on page 20 of the owners manual (1968) it states"CAUTION: Never leave the override swith in the On position since this will discharge the battery". They don't list an explanation why, but on my car I have an override idiot light on the center console. When the switch is turned on, this light is on and I'm guessing that is what they are talking about. The bulb is the same size as the other dash lights and overnight could probably drain quite a bit of the juice.
Mark
'69 doesn't have it either.


'69 350/350 conv.
in Forum: C3 Electrical
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