'68 Electrical Gremlins

[Joel K.]

Hi All,
I've been researching the forum and archives for info on electrical drains on batteries. Just had my alternator checked and it's OK, as is the battery. When the engine's running and a meter on the battery, I'm only getting about 12.6 volts. Shut it down and checked for amperage draw and got 5.2 amps. I'd previously checked all fused circuits for a draw and there wasn't anything on those circuits. I would appreciate any ideas, suggestions, on where to begin trying to trace this down.

[Jeff G.]

Re: '68 Electrical Gremlins

That's certainly an issue at 5+ amps. I didn't hear you mention if the voltage regulator checked out, that would be first. Beyond that I'd be isolating those hot circuits one-by-one starting with the keyed ignition switch. Please report back with your findings.
Jeff

[Joel K.]

Re: '68 Electrical Gremlins

Interesting thing just started happening at the ignition switch--when I push the key in far enough to turn it one way or the other, it energized the horn relay, until the key's turned either to the "on" or "acc" position.
On the electrical draw, I disconnected the alternator and the draw "disappeared" -- 0.00 amps on the meter. Reconnected it and still 0 amps, but after running the engine a few minutes, the draw returned, but then subsequent checks yielded a 0 amp reading! Same w/voltage regulator.

Different but related subject -- behind the center instrument cluster, there's a black wire with a flat tab connector. When I took the center console out, I did a diagram of where everything went, then--DOH!--misplaced that diagram. I couldn't find this wire on wiring diagrams. As I recall, it goes onto one of the ammeter terminals, but I sure would appreciate if anyone could confirm that, or tell me just where it's supposed to go!!

[Edward J.]

Re: '68 Electrical Gremlins

Joel, I Just A Frenid Of Mines Dash Apart For Redying Of All The Vinyl Trim. That Black Wire Has A Spad On The Back Of Gage Cluster For It, I Believe Its The Ground For The Gages Back Lamps, Maybe Even The For The Gages, I Dont Have A Wiring Diagram In Front Of Me.also I Beleive There Was A Ground On The Shifter Console Plate For The Cigar Lighter, Its Faces The Fire Wall.
I Think Your On The Right Track With The Battery Drain, Maybe The Regulator Is Getting Stuck On,check All The Harness Connectors At Regulator Sometimes The Spads Spread Open After Being Removed A Few Times ( Just A Thought)grounds Also.
The Horn Relay I Beleive Is Also The Key Buzzer Could That Be Whats Going On With The Key In Ingition?

[Jim T.]

Re: '68 Electrical Gremlins

Joel I have a original owner 68 and had the battery go dead because of a drain.
I was doing some cleaning of the dash a few days before and caught the wiper switch and moved it from off to on.
Key was not in ignition.
The wiper switch being moved from off to on turned on the drain even though the switch was returned to off.
After charging the battery I started the car and cycled the windshield wipers. This stopped the drain.
Have been very careful about moving the wiper switch to on since.

[Wayne W.]

Re: '68 Electrical Gremlins

Joel I have a original owner 68 and had the battery go dead because of a drain.
I was doing some cleaning of the dash a few days before and caught the wiper switch and moved it from off to on.
Key was not in ignition.
The wiper switch being moved from off to on turned on the drain even though the switch was returned to off.
After charging the battery I started the car and cycled the windshield wipers. This stopped the drain.
Have been very careful about moving the wiper switch to on since.

That is a 68 quirk.

[Bryan M.]

Re: '68 Electrical Gremlins

That is a 68 quirk.

The red wire to #8 terminal (wiper motor gearbox relay) is connected to the hot wire between the ignition and the battery. So, that wire is hot all the time. The wiper motor in park position opens this circuit with the internal wiper motor gearbox relay.

[Joel K.]

Re: '68 Electrical Gremlins

Different but related subject -- behind the center instrument cluster, there's a black wire with a flat tab connector. When I took the center console out, I did a diagram of where everything went, then--DOH!--misplaced that diagram. I couldn't find this wire on wiring diagrams. As I recall, it goes onto one of the ammeter terminals, but I sure would appreciate if anyone could confirm that, or tell me just where it's supposed to go!!

I posted this a few weeks ago. One responder, Edward Johnson, talked about a spade terminal; the wire I'm talking about is a black wire, 18 or 20 gauge, with a flat brass terminal crimped onto the end. As originally mentioned, I misplaced the diagram I made of the center instrument cluster console on the '68, and I wanted to find out if my memory served me right that it fit into one of the ammeter terminals, or where it goes. TIA for any help!!

[Louis T.]

Re: '68 Electrical Gremlins

Hi Joel,

after

In the meantime, order a set of color-coded OSOEZ laminated wiring diagrams for your year car from Geoffrey Coenen (DocREBUILD). I picked up a set for my '65 a couple of years ago. They are more accurate and complete than the B&W ones copied from the AIMs, and in addition to showing wires in their actual colors, they show pictures of all connectors, junctions, splices, etc., their locations, as well as bulb and fuse ID numbers. You'll find them indispensable, especially in your current predicament.

http://www.docrebuild.com/dr-r-web/NEW1.pdf

Good luck!

Louis

[Joel K.]

Re: '68 Electrical Gremlins

Hi Joel,

after

In the meantime, order a set of color-coded OSOEZ laminated wiring diagrams for your year car from Geoffrey Coenen (DocREBUILD). I picked up a set for my '65 a couple of years ago. They are more accurate and complete than the B&W ones copied from the AIMs, and in addition to showing wires in their actual colors, they show pictures of all connectors, junctions, splices, etc., their locations, as well as bulb and fuse ID numbers. You'll find them indispensable, especially in your current predicament.

http://www.docrebuild.com/dr-r-web/NEW1.pdf

Good luck!

Louis

Louis,
Yeah, I'm sure I'll find it sometime after the car's done. I do have the Dr. Rebuild diagrams for the '68, but the particular wire I'm asking about isn't shown there, either. You're definitely right that the diagrams are indispensable; I've referred to them throughout this project and will get a set for my '65 when I start it after the '68 is finished. Meanwhile the electrical gremlin remains a mystery, and so the great search goes on...