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Parasitic drain or bad battery(generator-383)
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matte
Posted 2016-05-01 6:43 PM (#510617)
Subject: Parasitic drain or bad battery(generator-383)



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Little confused or it could just have both problems.. After leaving my car for a week the battery would be down to around 12.10 volts. I did a parasitic test and found 0.05 to 0.10. Not having fuses I pulled positive wires under the hood but nothing changed.

I went for a drive on Saturday and all was good. Went to go for a drive on Sunday and just had the clicking sound. The battery was reading 12 volts.

I got it started and the charging at idle was at 14.88 to 15v (I'm hoping the high charging output is because the battery was down in charge). I went for a long drive then when I got home I did a few tests. After I let the battery sit for 2 hours to wash of any surface charge it read 12.48. I did a parasitic draw and it was at 0.25 and the only mods the car has are idiot gauges but no change when I disconnected them. I then took the terminals off of both battery posts to check battery drain. 5 hours later the battery was at 12.43 then the next morning(today) it is at 12.34.

So my question is-
Can a bad battery give a reading on a multimeter when doing a parasitic drain test or that definitely is only a parasitic drain?
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Shep
Posted 2016-05-01 7:41 PM (#510625 - in reply to #510617)
Subject: Re: Parasitic drain or bad battery(generator-383)



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.25 amps can be normal draw on a modern car, our cars with original electronics should not. Trunk lite on, glove box lite, keep alive radio memory on newer radios. Charging system problems also could be an issue. I assume you are talking amps here.
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matte
Posted 2016-05-01 8:32 PM (#510629 - in reply to #510617)
Subject: Re: Parasitic drain or bad battery(generator-383)



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Yeah mate .25 of an amp.. Everything is original right down to the radio except for the gauges. I disconnected the power wires under the hood that lead to the dash but still had the reading.. One at a time a disconnected all the light wires on the front bus bar. I also pretty much disconnected everything that had a power wire to it.. That's what made me think it could be a bad battery but that wouldn't show a drain if doing a parasitic test would it?

Oh and the person who semi restored the car must of had a thing with interior lights because there is no trunk, interior, door or glove box lights anymore!!! I've checked as much as I could and doesn't seem to be any raw wires left exposed where the lights should be lights.

Edited by matte 2016-05-01 8:37 PM
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Shep
Posted 2016-05-01 8:52 PM (#510634 - in reply to #510629)
Subject: Re: Parasitic drain or bad battery(generator-383)



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Disconnect both generator terminals., then recheck.
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matte
Posted 2016-05-01 8:54 PM (#510635 - in reply to #510634)
Subject: Re: Parasitic drain or bad battery(generator-383)



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Shep - 2016-05-01 8:52 PM

Disconnect both generator terminals., then recheck.


Disconnect from the generator then do the parasitic drain test?
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Shep
Posted 2016-05-01 9:59 PM (#510638 - in reply to #510635)
Subject: Re: Parasitic drain or bad battery(generator-383)



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Location: Chestertown, NY ( near Lake George)
matte - 2016-05-01 8:54 PM

Shep - 2016-05-01 8:52 PM

Disconnect both generator terminals., then recheck.


Disconnect from the generator then do the parasitic drain test?
. Correct, both the field and armature.
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matte
Posted 2016-05-02 1:03 AM (#510644 - in reply to #510617)
Subject: Re: Parasitic drain or bad battery(generator-383)



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Thanks for the suggestion Dave. It didn't change after I disconnected the generator.

I somehow might test the headlight switch as well. The only thing different I did was I drove with the headlights on Saturday evening because it was only the 3rd time out since owning the car. I noticed that the front parkers were on as well as the headlights (57 Ply Belv headlights) Because of not knowing the car too well I wasn't 100% sure if they should turn off when the headlights are on.. Then the next day the battery was flat!! I didn't think anything of the parkers or the headlight switch because I have had the lights on plenty of times in the garage. Also I've had a smallish parasite drain since owning the car but usually takes 4-7 days to not being able to turn the engine. Never over night....
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57plybel
Posted 2016-05-02 6:05 AM (#510651 - in reply to #510617)
Subject: RE: Parasitic drain or bad battery(generator-383)



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On a 57 Plym, the parkers should cancel when the headlights are on..... might have to check out that front terminal block...?

Also if someone has removed all your globes, it sounds like this power draw might be an old problem?

 

Colin



Edited by 57plybel 2016-05-02 6:18 AM
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matte
Posted 2016-05-02 7:02 PM (#510715 - in reply to #510651)
Subject: RE: Parasitic drain or bad battery(generator-383)



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57plybel - 2016-05-02 6:05 AM

On a 57 Plym, the parkers should cancel when the headlights are on..... might have to check out that front terminal block...?

Also if someone has removed all your globes, it sounds like this power draw might be an old problem?

 

Colin



Mate the wiring has been a mess. I made a whole new harness for the taillights because of how it was chopped and all wired up. When I got it the only lights that worked were the headlights. Using the wiring schematics, I had a long process of fixing the wiring and even under the dash had so many wires connected wrongly. This old girl has had a pretty darn fast "restoration" if you know what I mean..

Anyway seems to be the headlight switch that was the culprit to the drain. I pulled the power and the drain had stopped so I read how to do a quick fix if the terminals are dirty by just turning the switch off and on a few times quickly(Battery not connected) then it all worked correctly. Park lights went out when headlights switched on and no parasitic draw. It's been over night so I'll go out and check everything later this afternoon. It's either the switch terminal or the speedo light adjuster.

Thanks again guys.

one more problem down 562 to go

Edited by matte 2016-05-02 7:03 PM
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