Hi all, on my 84 camaro base (with a 350 swap from an old C10) the battery keeps dying. I dont think its parasitic draw because the camaro was down for about 2 weeks and cranked right up without charging the battery. But if I drive it for a while slowly the lights will dim/stop working and I wont be able to start it if it has been stopped. I experienced this issue a while ago, replaced the alternator, and it still had the issue. I summed it up to parasitic draw but it happened again today after I drove it from sitting for a few weeks.

My only guess is maybe somehow the alternator isnt charging the battery completely because I can drive multiple hours on one charge. (It was also a brand new battery in it today).

Also the voltage dummy light has been on but the ecm was deleted so I thought nothing of it.

I would gladly get readings but the bracket got mangled when I took out the alternator waiting on the new bracket now.

 

The alternator light ("Choke") has nothing to do with the ECM.
It's obviously not charging. Maybe you got a bad one...

 

If it isnt the alternator do you know what it could be?

 

I had samilar problem. Be sure u have grounds are stalled & cleaned -
Engine to chassis, engine to body. Also, from experience, be sure the alternator (alt) is paint free when attached to the alt bracket.
Had the alt problem ground when I had the alt on my 1984 Trans AM rebuilt & rebuilder painted the alt & thus the ground to engine for the alt was complete.
Due to the alt not grounding, it would cause the alt to overwork, not charge & thus the battery would discahrge.

 

Do you own a multimeter??

 

Yes, I do own a multimeter. And the alternator was not painted. Could it have been the alternator bracket?

 

Guessing will only keep you running around in circles; use your multimeter to remove all doubt.