Author Topic: Battery Draining  (Read 4896 times)

Offline sixpackcuda23

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Battery Draining
« on: October 06, 2009 - 09:07:38 PM »
For a little while now if I don't drive my car for a week and a half or so the battery goes dead.  Thought the battery may have been on its last leg until I tried this. Took the positive off the battery and waited a week to start her up. When I put the positive back on I noticed the stereo (newer pioneer) came on.  Started up fine, but thought that maybe there is a bad internal switch within the stereo that is draining the battery even though the stereo isn't on..Thoughts? Bad on off switch or maybe something is crossed?

Any place I can find a wiring diagram for a 74 Cuda online?




Offline GoodysGotaCuda

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Re: Battery Draining
« Reply #1 on: October 06, 2009 - 09:15:07 PM »
Who wired the radio? Any radio will have a "memory" wire that has 12v at all times. It draws a very small amount of current and does so to keep the clock, radio presets and audio presets there. There is usually a yellow wire which is a switched 12v source that will let the radio know when the "car is on" to actually turn on. If the radio with the key off is able to play music, then the yellow wire (assuming) is tapped to a constant 12v source.

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Offline Katfish

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Re: Battery Draining
« Reply #2 on: October 06, 2009 - 09:15:20 PM »
http://www.mymopar.com/index.php?pid=24

Connect the battery back up, disconnect just the radio and see what happens.

Offline Bullitt-

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Re: Battery Draining
« Reply #3 on: October 06, 2009 - 09:16:42 PM »
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Offline sixpackcuda23

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Re: Battery Draining
« Reply #4 on: October 07, 2009 - 12:41:31 PM »
will check it all out, thanks guys!

Offline 73EStroker

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Re: Battery Draining
« Reply #5 on: October 10, 2009 - 10:09:56 PM »
I doubt if the radio memory is the problem as they only draw micro-amps to keep the clock and presets going.  I would try disconnecting things one at a time and see what happens. Like light switch one week then wipers the next then oher stuff like voltage regulator, alternator etc. One other test you can make is to take a good brand digital multimeter, place the testleads one in (common) and the other on (10 AMPS). There should be 3 or 4 connections to choose from. Rotate the dial to DC AMPS (Most of the junker multimeters from the junker stores will not be capable of this, you need a good one). Then DISCONNECT the battery ground. Connect one lead to the frame of the car and the other to the ground lead. This way you will see how much current is leaking. The display might show a (-) sign in front of the amperage value that just means to swap the leads around to get the correct polarity. DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT place the test leads across the battery from (-) to (+) or you will blow the meter and leads to smithereens. That will short across the battery. Remember to put the test leads back into the common and volts terminals before you put the meter away. I am an electrical engineering tech but I have still blown up the odd multimeter forgetting to do this when I used it again. This is the best way to see what kind of load is draining from your battery. You might need help doing this.
« Last Edit: October 10, 2009 - 10:12:28 PM by 73EStroker »
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Offline 6packCuda

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Re: Battery Draining
« Reply #6 on: October 10, 2009 - 11:51:44 PM »
One thing I might add to 73EStroker's post is while you have the multi-meter hooked up measuring the parasitic draw, you can go to the fuse panel and start pulling fuses one by one while watching the meter and see if it makes a difference. If you pull a fuse and the amp draw drops, you know which circuit has the draw. I would think the radio memory would only be pulling maybe 10 mA, probably less.
Dave

Offline Moparal

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Re: Battery Draining
« Reply #7 on: October 11, 2009 - 11:07:38 AM »
Kinda sounds like a steering column wireing problem. Ignition switch or turnsignal switch will screw you up quick

Offline MEK-Dangerfield

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Re: Battery Draining
« Reply #8 on: October 11, 2009 - 12:22:11 PM »
It's a long shot, but it it possible you have a light staying on all the time? Maybe in the glove box, or ashtray?

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Offline FY1Cuda

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Re: Battery Draining
« Reply #9 on: October 11, 2009 - 01:59:40 PM »
My vote's with MoparAl's idea.  The drain we had was the turn signal switch.

Offline Bullitt-

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Re: Battery Draining
« Reply #10 on: October 11, 2009 - 02:31:56 PM »
I keep thinking about the stereo. If wired correctly it should not come on with the key turned off. ...any chance it is turning on some amps & is staying on with the key off ?
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Offline Chryco Psycho

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Re: Battery Draining
« Reply #11 on: October 12, 2009 - 01:59:30 PM »
stereo & clock are constant power drains but very minimal
I too would connect a volt meter between the battery & cable & start discnnecting fuses & circuits until the draw stops

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Offline tommyg29

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Re: Battery Draining
« Reply #12 on: October 12, 2009 - 02:07:55 PM »
I also have a power drain but since I keep the car on a battery conditioner and only drive it a couple times a week it hasnt been an issue lately, but its still a problem I've yet to solve.
My multimeter shows a draw of about .05 amps, and funny thing happens when I use the right turn signal...the radio turns off for about 2 seconds. And now, the same happens when I put the car in reverse, when the dash backup light goes on...the radio cuts out for 2 seconds. Something strange going on down near the fuseblock cause all I have to do is move some of the steering column wires around a little and relays start clicking and things turn on and off.
What voltages does a fully discharged and charged battery show. I'm now reading about 12.9 volts. Isnt a fully charged battery about 13.9 volts, and discharged about 11.9?
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Offline 6packCuda

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Re: Battery Draining
« Reply #13 on: October 12, 2009 - 02:17:39 PM »
A fully charged battery is 12.6 Volts with the engine off.
« Last Edit: October 12, 2009 - 02:20:30 PM by 6packCuda »
Dave

Offline Chryco Psycho

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Re: Battery Draining
« Reply #14 on: October 12, 2009 - 02:40:56 PM »
Typically a fully charged battery is closer to 13.2 V

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