help with an electrical short

[Rick Garrett]

I have had a slow battery draw happening for approx 2 months (battery dead every 2 days or so). Now the draw has turned into a serious short, you can hook it up and watch the volts drop in a matter of seconds! FMy thinking was that it must be from something that is hot when ignition is not on which I think is the starter, ignition switch, alternator?, light systems,and ctsy lights. I ruled out the fused leads which I believe left the starter, ignition switch and alt. First I uplugged the starter wire and tested that battery to see if the battery cables were grounding and the batter tested ok. I unplugged the alt and it still drained, I bypassed the starter and still drained. The only thing I had touched in the car when the draw became a major draw was to test my rebuilt stereo(clicked the ignition switch on). I unplugged the radio and the guages just in case I shorted them, but no change. Could the ignition switch be the culprit? Was my logic correct above or have I missed some things?

as always thanks

[Wayne W.]

Re: help with an electrical short

It would help if we knew what year car we are dealing with.

[Rick Garrett]

Re: help with an electrical short 1982

its an 82

[Don O'Connell #33101]

Re: help with an electrical short 1982

Rick,

Don't forget the horn circuit, its always "hot" (at least on a '69)

Don

[Robert C.]

Re: help with an electrical short 1982

82s have a computer. I believe there are test circuts under the ash tray to plug in and check.Dealers can check it for you.


Texas Chapter NCRS

[Bill Clupper]

Re: help with an electrical short 1982

If you start by disconnecting all the wires at the Starter, and check the wiring diagran for any jumper that run off the cable before the starter (I don't think there are any, but my '82 experience is limited, then charge the battery and use a current probe to hook up all of the wires again, one at a time. The only things that are on continuously (I think) are the computer and the radio clock. You can pull the fuses to disable those. When you hit the circuit that sparks or regesters on the amp probe (use most sensitive setting) you will have found the short. Cigar lighters are a tempting culprit, but don't guess. If none of the wires shows a draw with the fuses out, the connect nthe probe to the battery cable and start reinstalling the fuses. turn up the setting on the amp probe before you install the ctsy lp fuse with the door open. This should find it for you. One last item, I've seen one car that had a leak path that went through the starter solenoid from the battery feed directly that showed the symptoms you describe.

[grr]

Re: help with an electrical short

Rick, you state this has been going on for about 2 months or so. Did you do anything to the car in that time frame? If so what? If it was an electrical item you may (even a bulb)have had installed or repaired I'd check there. It's usually the last item you worked on or an additional item added to the car and not installed correctly.grr#33570

[Wayne W.]

Re: help with an electrical short 1982

OK now that I know its an 82. The most common draw on an 82 is the courtesy light timer. It is located behind the glove box area, pink box. Unplug it and check to see if the draw goes away.