Short, where to start looking
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Ames, IA, US
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Short, where to start looking
I have a short somewhere in my car, I had my battery, altanator and even my starter tested and there all good. So I am sure that it is a short, but where do I start looking? I know that the guy who owned the car befor I did put a new cd player in it so could he of not wired it right? If I let the car sit over night it will have enough power to run the lights and thats about it in the morning.
#2
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: Hayward, CA
Posts: 893
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 91 camaro
Engine: 383
Transmission: T56
Ok, this may be a dumb idea and kinda tedious, and I'm not even sure if it'll work, but here's what I'd try: when the battery is charged up, and the negative cable is disconnected, touch the cable to the negative post. You see a small spark, right? That spark means that something is drawing power. Then go and unplug all the fuses. Put one of them back in. Then touch the negative wire to the post. Does it spark? If it does, then something that runs through that fuse is drawing power. Continue this process for each fuse. Most of them shouldn't spark since there shouldn't be anyting drawing power when the car's not running (with the exception of the hood light, and a small amount of current for the CD player and the ECM memory). This way you can begin to isolate what system the short is in by seeing which fuse it is run through. Then find out what components that fuse has power to. Uh, if you take out all the fuses, and it still sparks, then obviously I have no idea what I'm talking about here, and you might not want to waste your time trying this. Oh, yeah, you also might want to make note of where all the fuses go, I know they're labeled and all, but just in case...
#3
Do what Vicious said, But use a multimeter
Test for Continuity between the Negative post and the Chassis with the Negative cable disconnected, Alot More accurate Than the Spark method
------------------
60 Ranchero - Project ( Money Hole )
85 Z28 LG4 - Daily Driver
**Mods**
MSD Superconductors
14" Open Element
KYB all around
Test for Continuity between the Negative post and the Chassis with the Negative cable disconnected, Alot More accurate Than the Spark method
------------------
60 Ranchero - Project ( Money Hole )
85 Z28 LG4 - Daily Driver
**Mods**
MSD Superconductors
14" Open Element
KYB all around
#4
Supreme Member
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Tucson, AZ, USA
Posts: 1,335
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Car: '92 Z28; Dk Teal; Her Pkg
Engine: 305
Transmission: Richmond 6 Spd
Axle/Gears: Moser 9", Detroit Locker, 3.70
Do a search for the text "battery drain" in the electronics section. There are 12 topics existing that discuss this problem.
Tim
Tim
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
theshackle
Tech / General Engine
4
03-05-2017 06:37 PM