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

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.

had a light stay on in the center rear compartment. ran the battery

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

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.

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

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

Thanks Mark,

I looked in my '70 owners manual and there is no mention of that. Don't have the warning light you mentioned either. Another little difference between model years...!!!

Jim O.
Save the Wave...!!!

'69 doesn't have it either.