battery keeps discharging

uranium67 · 09-05-2009, 12:03 AM

I believe i have all the wiring correct, and the 292 engine starts and drives, but after maybe a day, the battery is dead. I cant figure out why. Any ideas? Thanks!

hotrodpc · 09-05-2009, 12:10 AM

Take a test light or continuity tester, and do a power draw test. Disconnect your positive battery cable. Make sure everything is off in the vehicle. Hook the test light inline to the positive battery terminal. Meaning put the light on the + post, then the other end of the light wire on the + battery cable. IF no power is being drawn, the light will be off. If it lights up, you have something drawing power off the battery.

crabtruck · 09-05-2009, 12:18 AM

^^^agree, although I like disconnecting the neg side, personal pref.

Then start pulling fuses.
Hey, at least you don't have to gap them before replacing.

gmctrucks · 09-05-2009, 12:21 AM

Put a meter to it and start pulling fuses find which one drops the meter then go from there. Maybe it's the On-Star did that year truck come with one?
Silly! GMC

eponator · 09-05-2009, 09:53 AM

How old is the battery? There' could be a short in the truck's system causing a parisitic drain or there could be a bad cell in the bat causing the same thing. If you don't have any luck with the wiring try completely disconnecting / rmoving the bat and charging it full, take a voltage reading, then go back and check on it in 2 hours or so. If it reads the same the bats good, if it dropped, you got a bad cell.

Autozone, Kragen, or the like will do this test for you for free if you drop off the batt at their location.

leolkfrm · 09-05-2009, 12:10 PM

what is the voltage reading when it is running? which vehicle?

hotrodpc · 09-05-2009, 01:47 PM

I just assumed it was old Ford truck Leo since he mentioned the 292 which is a Y block V8 Ford. Could also be the I6 Chevy though too, but I don't think he has a Chebby. If its a newer vehicle, sky is the limit on the problem.

uranium67 · 09-05-2009, 02:30 PM

The truck is a '64, the battery came with the truck when i bought it, about 8 months ago i think, the voltage reading I get when the truck is running is around 20 to 24 dc volts.

leolkfrm · 09-05-2009, 02:46 PM

WOW! you got me now, i thought it would be a 12 volt system or at the worst an old 6v. I was thinking battery getting old or not fully charging when driven

BernieB · 09-05-2009, 03:43 PM

If it's a 12v system then the voltage regulator is shot and it's cooking the battery (probably boiled away a lot of the electrolyte). If it's a 24v system, it ain't charging.

09-05-2009, 12:03 AM	#1
uranium67 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Good ol' San Diego Posts: 89	battery keeps discharging I believe i have all the wiring correct, and the 292 engine starts and drives, but after maybe a day, the battery is dead. I cant figure out why. Any ideas? Thanks! __________________ If it's broke, fix it, don't put a band-aid on it.

09-05-2009, 12:10 AM	#2
hotrodpc Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: OKC, OK Posts: 3,149	Take a test light or continuity tester, and do a power draw test. Disconnect your positive battery cable. Make sure everything is off in the vehicle. Hook the test light inline to the positive battery terminal. Meaning put the light on the + post, then the other end of the light wire on the + battery cable. IF no power is being drawn, the light will be off. If it lights up, you have something drawing power off the battery. __________________ *Winners NEVER Quit , Quitters NEVER Win !!!*

09-05-2009, 09:53 AM	#5
eponator Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: West Covina, Ca Posts: 363	How old is the battery? There' could be a short in the truck's system causing a parisitic drain or there could be a bad cell in the bat causing the same thing. If you don't have any luck with the wiring try completely disconnecting / rmoving the bat and charging it full, take a voltage reading, then go back and check on it in 2 hours or so. If it reads the same the bats good, if it dropped, you got a bad cell. Autozone, Kragen, or the like will do this test for you for free if you drop off the batt at their location. __________________ '99 F350 5.4L crewcab Longbed

09-05-2009, 12:10 PM	#6
leolkfrm Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: N.Y. Posts: 4,300	what is the voltage reading when it is running? which vehicle? __________________ 4 wheels move the body 2 wheels move the soul B.W.A.I

09-05-2009, 01:47 PM	#7
hotrodpc Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: OKC, OK Posts: 3,149	I just assumed it was old Ford truck Leo since he mentioned the 292 which is a Y block V8 Ford. Could also be the I6 Chevy though too, but I don't think he has a Chebby. If its a newer vehicle, sky is the limit on the problem. __________________ *Winners NEVER Quit , Quitters NEVER Win !!!*

09-05-2009, 12:18 AM	#3
crabtruck Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: on your 9 Posts: 3,364	^^^agree, although I like disconnecting the neg side, personal pref. Then start pulling fuses. Hey, at least you don't have to gap them before replacing.

09-05-2009, 12:21 AM	#4
gmctrucks Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Houston,Texas Posts: 4,033	Put a meter to it and start pulling fuses find which one drops the meter then go from there. Maybe it's the On-Star did that year truck come with one? Silly! GMC

09-05-2009, 02:30 PM	#8
uranium67 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Good ol' San Diego Posts: 89	The truck is a '64, the battery came with the truck when i bought it, about 8 months ago i think, the voltage reading I get when the truck is running is around 20 to 24 dc volts. __________________ If it's broke, fix it, don't put a band-aid on it.

09-05-2009, 02:46 PM	#9
leolkfrm Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: N.Y. Posts: 4,300	WOW! you got me now, i thought it would be a 12 volt system or at the worst an old 6v. I was thinking battery getting old or not fully charging when driven __________________ 4 wheels move the body 2 wheels move the soul B.W.A.I

09-05-2009, 03:43 PM	#10
BernieB Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Fredericksburg, VA Posts: 1,902	If it's a 12v system then the voltage regulator is shot and it's cooking the battery (probably boiled away a lot of the electrolyte). If it's a 24v system, it ain't charging. __________________ If the guys who design 'em had to take one home, use it every day for 2 years, and do all the maint and repairs themselves, cars would have a button on the dash to change the oil, filters & plugs.

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