Author Topic: Battery going dead - Found Problem  (Read 3806 times)

Offline CUDA JAS

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Battery going dead - Found Problem
« on: August 21, 2008 - 01:55:17 PM »
I left my new batery hooked up in my Cuda and it went dead.

I assume this is not normal...how do I trace the problem.

I did a draw test (digital multimeter between the neg bat cable (disconnected) and the negative post) and it looks like it is drawing less than one amp with nothing on, if I am reading the meter right of course.

« Last Edit: September 14, 2008 - 10:15:43 PM by CUDA JAS »
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Offline Chryco Psycho

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Re: Battery going dead
« Reply #1 on: August 21, 2008 - 02:05:13 PM »
if you have a ralley dash the clock is the usual culprit , try disconnecting that or other circuits until you pin down the draw

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Offline CUDA JAS

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Re: Battery going dead
« Reply #2 on: August 21, 2008 - 02:11:49 PM »
nope standard dash.

This sounds like it coudl be a pain :bricks1:...I guess I can start at the fuse block and pull fuses untill the draw stops. :pullinghair: :banghead:

Any other likley culprits?
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Offline MEK-Dangerfield

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Re: Battery going dead
« Reply #3 on: August 21, 2008 - 04:01:02 PM »
How long did the car sit before the battery went dead?

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Offline LAA66

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Re: Battery going dead
« Reply #4 on: August 21, 2008 - 05:48:12 PM »
 If no draw source found at the fuse box maybe try disconnecting the other bulkhead connectors one by one. Then isolate which wire is drawing power. If no results there then the starter circuit?

Offline CUDA JAS

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Re: Battery going dead
« Reply #5 on: August 21, 2008 - 08:59:20 PM »
How long did the car sit before the battery went dead?

5 or 6 days.
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Offline 73Chally

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Re: Battery going dead
« Reply #6 on: August 21, 2008 - 09:16:28 PM »
Could be a bad ground, unless the battery is bad.  You could be down a cell, so even when it charges it drops to 10 volts as soon as you shut the car off.  Have you pulled the battery and taken it to Autozone, etc to have it tested?

Offline BIGSHCLUNK

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Re: Battery going dead
« Reply #7 on: August 21, 2008 - 09:19:28 PM »
Check the battery first! Recharge it band load test it. Then go from there. When I workedat a repair shop (a gazillion years ago) sometimes we'd get a bad (new) one right off the shelf.  :faint:
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Offline CUDA JAS

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Re: Battery going dead
« Reply #8 on: August 21, 2008 - 10:18:11 PM »
Check the battery first! Recharge it band load test it. Then go from there. When I workedat a repair shop (a gazillion years ago) sometimes we'd get a bad (new) one right off the shelf.  :faint:

Could be, it is a brand new optima red top...jeez I would think it would be good.  I should get it checked out.
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Offline ShelbyDogg

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Re: Battery going dead
« Reply #9 on: August 25, 2008 - 10:54:07 PM »
 The only thing drawing power should be a clock or stereo's memory circuit. That would probably be about .035 amps. My Cuda, is sitting in my friends garage and has been parked for 6 months and the battery is still ready to crank. No Radio or working clock so it is like being disconnected.   To test for current draw, I have a test light soldered to 2 alligator clips that I clip between the positive cable and battery post. The brighter the light, the more the draw. Start unplugging connectors till the light goes out.  I use a brake light bulb for finding shorts. The light will grow brightly saving your wires from frying till you find the short.  If you can't see the light also use a small 12v buzzer from Radio Shack hooked in parallel to the light. Then you can listen for the buzz to stop while unplugging wires. Some guys don't know a thing about wiring, so they end up paying me $40 a hour to fix dumb stuff like brake lights not working

I had a friend's challenger draining the battery all the time when parked.  He told me the dome light "pulsed" when the door opened and the car was off. When I heard that, I knew what it was. I told him that he had his clock wire (constant 12v)  plugged into his guage voltage limiter and should be a switched 12v. That fixed it.


Rob
« Last Edit: August 26, 2008 - 02:11:54 PM by shelbydogg »
Rob

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Offline CUDA JAS

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Re: Battery going dead
« Reply #10 on: August 30, 2008 - 11:19:03 AM »
  I will throw out another possibility to check, the alternator and/or the voltage regulator could be causing the excess current draw as well.  I've seen it happen before.  Good luck.

Looks like we have a winner..had the alternator checked this am, DC volatsge failed, internal reg is fried.  So time to pick up a new one...ther goes some more money!! :money:

Does this sound right?

Will this ever end!!! :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

Thanks guys!!
« Last Edit: August 30, 2008 - 12:08:00 PM by CUDA JAS »
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Offline ShelbyDogg

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Re: Battery going dead
« Reply #11 on: August 30, 2008 - 05:50:01 PM »
had the alternator checked this am, DC volatsge failed, internal reg is fried.  Does this sound right?


No, doesn't sound right since that year mopar alternator doesn't have an "internal" regulator. Your regulator is on the cowl. Did they check that?  I thought you said that your new battery was draining while sitting a week.
Rob

3 E-bodies, Megasquirt-1v3.0, Edelbrock Pro-Flo-1, Holley C950, FAST EZ-EFI; say no to carbs...yes to throttle bodies

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Offline CUDA JAS

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Re: Battery going dead
« Reply #12 on: August 31, 2008 - 06:40:37 PM »
No, doesn't sound right since that year mopar alternator doesn't have an "internal" regulator. Your regulator is on the cowl. Did they check that?  I thought you said that your new battery was draining while sitting a week.

Yep, that is what i thought too.

I went back to the same place and talked to them...they tested it agian, and the alternator is not working.

I have a new VR.

I will hook and back up and see if the battery is still draining.

Jas
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Offline ShelbyDogg

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Re: Battery going dead - Updated
« Reply #13 on: August 31, 2008 - 06:49:46 PM »
Maybe you should take it to a different place to have it tested.
Rob

3 E-bodies, Megasquirt-1v3.0, Edelbrock Pro-Flo-1, Holley C950, FAST EZ-EFI; say no to carbs...yes to throttle bodies

My Pace Car restoration thread:
http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=44869.0


Offline CUDA JAS

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Re: Battery going dead - Updated
« Reply #14 on: September 01, 2008 - 04:14:25 PM »
Ok..lets see if I have this right.

I pull off the negative bat cable. 
I hook up my DVM between the nge cable and neg batt post.
The DVM is on the 10 volt setting (make that amps).
The DVM reads 0.08 amps.

I assume that this is an acceptabel reading?? :dunno:

I can not get a reasding on any other setting on the DVM.

Jas
« Last Edit: September 01, 2008 - 09:22:16 PM by CUDA JAS »
74 'cuda 360/727



Gearhead: car nut, automotive enthusiast, one who loves hot rods, muscle cars, hot trucks, burnin' rubber and neck snapping performance. 

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