A huge drain

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Jan 23, 2010 | 02:37 PM

Wolfskin

Thread Starter

Junior Member

Joined: Jan 2010

Posts: 33

Likes: 0

Car: 87 Z28 and 90 Grand Prix STE

Engine: Z28-project 454, STE-turbo 3.1L

Transmission: Z28-4l80e, STE-4T65

Axle/Gears: Z28-truck 12 bolt posi 3.73

A huge drain

Ok, so i just bought this 85 t/a and it has a huge drain that can kill a new battery in about 15 minutes. It seems fine untill I turn the headlights on. I drove around all day yesterday with the radio on, and wipers going, and everything was cool. Then I turned on the headlights, and it was done. I haven't gotten a good look at whats going on with all of it yet, but my headlights are locked in the up position, guess one of the motors died. I pulled the alt and had it tested, and it's good, but somehow this thing is just killing the battery, even while driving at 60mph. Any idea before I go and start taking things apart? oh, I don't think it's important, but the left fog light doesn't come on, and the right turnsignal doesn't flash. Hope the's a lot of us on here right now. Thanks.

Jan 25, 2010 | 03:02 PM

NINÅ

Supreme Member

Joined: Jan 2006

Posts: 3,341

Likes: 12

From: Mooresville NC

Car: LOWERED ♦ CRIMSON METALFLAKE

Engine: ► 400 KUBES ◄

Transmission: 765R4

Axle/Gears: EATON POSI 4.56

Huge Drain, No Water, Who Needs It ?

Sometimes the under-hood light does not go out so check that easy one first.

Then connect an ammeter in series with the battery.

With everything turned off and doors closed observe the current flow.

Pull the fuses one at a time till you see the current drop.

That’s the circuit with the problem.

◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙
Happy Racing!

◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙

If People Drove Any Slower They’d Be Going Backwards

When you see fog or “running” lights on in good weather beware. Low performance driver ahead.

How bout those nitwits too scared to drive without headlights in the daytime,

and the nitwits that need headlights for a little rain

.
.

Feb 27, 2010 | 05:20 PM

grandpa roxy

Junior Member

Joined: Feb 2010

Posts: 4

Likes: 0

Re: Huge Drain, No Water, Who Needs It ?

[quote=NINÅ;4412818]Sometimes the under-hood light does not go out so check that easy one first.

Then connect an ammeter in series with the battery.

With everything turned off and doors closed observe the current flow.

Pull the fuses one at a time till you see the current drop.

That’s the circuit with the problem.

◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙
Happy Racing!◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙

If People Drove Any Slower They’d Be Going Backwards

When you see fog or “running” lights on in good weather beware. Low performance driver ahead.

How bout those nitwits too scared to drive without headlights in the daytime,

and the nitwits that need headlights for a little rain

.
.

[/quote There should be relays for headlight motors and they are powered off fusiblle link could be headlight motor stuck drawing power

Mar 1, 2010 | 05:25 PM

Rolling Thunder

Supreme Member

Joined: Mar 2008

Posts: 1,549

Likes: 1

From: CT

Car: 86 T/A, 83 Z/28

Engine: 5.0 TPI, 350 2 X 4 bbl

Transmission: 4 speed auto, 5 speed manual

Axle/Gears: 3.23 posi, 3.73 std

Re: A huge drain

I would check out the wiring on the charging system. I mean a stock alternator should be able to out out at least 50-60 amps thats pretty huge. To kill a car thats running its got to draw over that amount plus drain the battery which also has a huge charge on it. If you had a current draw that was that big ide guess it would blow fuses or melt wires first. Im guessing your alternator although good maybe but the wiring is bad not allowing it to charge eventually killing the battery.