Any Electrical Experts in the Austin Club

AgShelby · #1 (**permalink**) 10-03-2006, 05:56 PM

My car has a painless wiring harness - with a couple of gremlins.

The battery keeps going flat when parked. It is a new optima redtop and it charges fine, but something is pulling a load when the car is not running.

I have everything turned off on the car and when I install the hot lead there is a small spark at the terminal connection. (something is pulling a load). I removed each fuse and rechecked the battery connection and there is still something pulling a load each time I connect the battery lead.

All connections appear fine under the hood and the next step is to pull the dash and check all of those connections.

This is definately not my area of expertise - any ideas for troubleshooting further?

jayscobras · #2 (**permalink**) 10-03-2006, 07:17 PM

Sorry but bad ground somewhere. I f you have a powder coated frame and grounds go there, that is probably your problem. either that or you have two wires from the power end that are neer and draining. either way wiring problems are a ***** to find. Good luck.

Jay

rblong · #3 (**permalink**) 10-03-2006, 07:21 PM

I am not an expert, but have been doing electrical troubleshooting for a long time. If you pull all the fuses but still have a spark it is likely a short on the line side of the fuse box - but that usually yields a burned wire since it has no protection. Another thing might be something someone ran direct. Of course you would think whatever it was would be ON all the time. I do not know how your car is wired, but I would go to the main lug connection and see if anything else comes directly off it other than what goes to the fuse box. Unhook anything else and see if it goes away. Probably not a lot of help to you but what I would do.

Barnsnake · #4 (**permalink**) 10-03-2006, 07:34 PM

The charge lead from the alternator is likely wired directly to the battery side of the starter solenoid. A defective regulator could cause your battery drain.

AgShelby · #5 (**permalink**) 10-03-2006, 07:41 PM

Thanks for the suggestions. My frame is powdercoated and the grounds attach to the frame. I am going to install a cut-off switch to preserve the battery when parked and then also re-check all grounds.

slithering · #6 (**permalink**) 10-03-2006, 10:23 PM

You need to find the source of the draw. The constant replenishing of the battery is damaging you alternator, battery and any electronics. If you can't find it, PM me and I'll walk you through it.

Chris

AgShelby · #7 (**permalink**) 10-04-2006, 06:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slithering

You need to find the source of the draw. The constant replenishing of the battery is damaging you alternator, battery and any electronics. If you can't find it, PM me and I'll walk you through it.

Chris

Thanks very much for the offer. I am going to check the grounds this evening and will send you a note afterwards. All grounds are attached directly to the frame, which is powdercoated. This charging problem is intermittent, so a loose/improper ground could be the cause.

sharpe 1 · #8 (**permalink**) 10-04-2006, 06:25 AM

It sounds like you may have a leaking diode in the alternator. You can check this buy turning everything off and then take a voltage reading from the alt.case to ground.If you get a voltage reading, you have a bad diode in the alt. It will leak voltage to ground and drain the bat.

sharpe 1

AgShelby · #9 (**permalink**) 10-04-2006, 04:47 PM

I think that the issue is with the ignition. Once the batter has been re-charged there is no spark. Don't think it is a wiring issue - as the car ran fine until very recently. I have no clue on electrical and will just have to research/struggle through it. Any help/advice is appreciated!

jetenginedoctor · #10 (**permalink**) 10-06-2006, 07:55 AM

I'm in Austin, and I can find the source of your problem. Either call me or send me a PM and we can figure out a time to get together. I'm going to see if Gregg H wants to help me get started on my own roadster this weekend. Maybe we can make an event of it, and sort your car out too.

BK