I have a 1982 Z/28 and I can't seem to find a short in my car. If I don't start the car for more than a day the battery is drained. I am pretty decent as far as wiring goes but I have no idea what the best way to find a short is.

 

not sure but i herd that,that was a common problem and it had to do with the radio. but also is your engine bay light shutting off when you close it . never no.

 

Thanks for the input but I don't believe its either one of those problems b/c I don't have the underhood light and I don't have a radio in it right now b/c I just replaced the interior.

 

Take your volt meter (DC amp setting) and check across each fuse with key off, to find out which circuit the current drain is on, then trace from there.

 

Wow, lot of Junior Members around here now. Welcome to the board all.
How old is the battery?
Do you have a DMM (digital multi meter) and know how to use it? If so disconnect the '+' side of the battery and put the meter, set to amps, in between. This will tell you how much parasitic drain there is on the battery. You will have some for the radio and computer, but post that number here. That's where to start. From there, if the number is to high, you can just pull the fuses one at a time to find out what circuit it on.

 

I think I figured out the problem, I found two ground wires that were disconnected under the driverside of the dash yesterday and the battery is staying up now, hopefully that takes care of it, but thanks for the info, Thats what I was looking for I wasn't sure how to use a multimeter to test for a short, now I know thanks.

 

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Check all of your grounds, I wasn't aware of this but a bad ground can cause your battery to drain. Make sure the grounds are tight and not corroded.

 

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Unhook your posative battery cable, use a testlight to jump from battery to cable end,....the testlight will light up if you have a draw going on,...then pull one fuse at the fuse block and look at the light, do this till the light goes out,...also only pull one fuse then put it back,...(keep you from pulling all fuses at once)when the light goes out that will point you in the right direction,.....also if you get through all fuses and testlight is still lit,...then take the big red hot wire off the back of the alternator, if light goes out then you have a short in your alt,....hope this helps...Paul

 

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I have a similar problem I just put in a speed density tpi in my car it is a 83 z28 I unplugged all fuses and when I turn the key my ground wires start smoking does any one have any idea where that short could be with all the fuses out could that be between the starter and ingnition switch is it possible for the ignition switch3e to try to start with all fuses out of fuse box please somone help me I re wired under the dash I have been on this problem for 2 weeks now I can say I am truly stuck

 

I did the test light between battery and cable test and found out which fuse the short was on, after further investigation i have a few questions.

1. What does the relay that is between the door buzzer and flasher go to.

2. What would cause this relay to stay on at all times, the relay is not bad because I replaced it and it still put a drain on the battery.

 

If you have tested and not found any difference when disconnecting the fuses you should disconnect the alternator and see if it still goes dead after 7 days.. the alternator has 3 diodes that actually make it an alternating current. they also act as a one-way valve for the power.. I don't think it's highly likely because it would likely cause it to go dead faster than 5 days but its something else that should be checked.

 

Do you have the door open? that would close that circit and cause the relay to be on, if all doors are closed and the relay is still causing the drain,....i would probley start looking for a pinched ground wire on that circit,...just thinking outloud...........paul