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Old 03-14-2011, 07:55 PM   #1
jay55jay
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Battery Dies in a week!!!

Ok so I am having a issue with the truck. It's a 94 GMC C3500 SLE fully loaded nothing modified. Motor is a 454. The battery dies in a little over a week. When I bought the truck the Alternator appears to be new. Is there any way I can troubleshoot this to narrow down the cause. I have swapped out 4 Batteries from Auto Zone. I went for the best battery they had. There is nothing added the truck is stock. Any help would be great...
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Old 03-14-2011, 08:29 PM   #2
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Re: Battery Dies in a week!!!

While I've not tried this I have read that you can disconnect the positive side battery cable and place a test lamp in between the battery post and the cable. With the key off, interior lamps off, etc the test lamp should not be lit. If the test lamp lites up there is a ground somewhere. Begin removing fuses until the lamp goes out to narrow down the source of power drain.
And if the alternator looks to have already been replaced it may have been replaced in an attempt to remedy the power drain problem. You can remove the alternator and have it tested just to eliminate it from the possible drain causes.
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Old 03-14-2011, 08:41 PM   #3
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Re: Battery Dies in a week!!!

Thanks for that tip I will have to try that. That helps a lot. Now I hope its not major surgery lol...
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Old 03-14-2011, 10:45 PM   #4
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Re: Battery Dies in a week!!!

Boog, What this test shows is a drain in the system if the light stays on. This was a good test procedure for older non computerized vehicles, But with computers they draw power to maintain proper start-up settings. So even with every single fuse pulled out the test light will stay on, I have a drain issue in my rig and couldn't locate it with this method. I installed a hidden racing battery disconnect in the negative side and turn it off if the truck sits more than a few days, But it's not my DD either....


Good Luck finding your drain Jay !
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Old 03-14-2011, 11:05 PM   #5
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Re: Battery Dies in a week!!!

i have the very same problem with mine. i will go with the disconnect too.is there a way to put a switch inside the cab?(or is that just being too lazy.LOL) thanks again restorob for this info.
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Old 03-15-2011, 07:13 AM   #6
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Re: Battery Dies in a week!!!

dishow, You can mount the switch any place you like. All you need is the bulk roll of battery cable wire and crimp connectors.

I got the flaming river with removable key from Summit, I don't mind raising the hood to power up. It gives me a chance to look everything over and make sure there are no neighborhood cats laying under there before I bring it to life, That could be a mess !
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Old 03-15-2011, 08:47 AM   #7
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Re: Battery Dies in a week!!!

My '91 has a power drain somewhere. Everytime I wanted to start it, I would have to bust out the battery charger. Since the truck lives in the garage and rarely gets driven, I picked up a Battery Tender and haven't had a problem since.
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Old 03-15-2011, 11:46 AM   #8
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Re: Battery Dies in a week!!!

Had a '96 that was draining the battery. We tried a new battery with no luck. Had the charging system checked and found nothing. Drove me crazy for awhile. Finally took it to someone who's much smarter.

Turns out a sun-visor mirror lamp was staying on.
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Old 03-15-2011, 12:05 PM   #9
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Re: Battery Dies in a week!!!

Quote:
Originally Posted by 1badgmc View Post
I picked up a Battery Tender and haven't had a problem since.

Will a battery tender help keep someone from stealing your belove'd truck ?
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Last edited by Restrorob; 03-15-2011 at 12:06 PM.
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Old 03-15-2011, 04:36 PM   #10
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Re: Battery Dies in a week!!!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Restrorob View Post
Will a battery tender help keep someone from stealing your belove'd truck ?
No. That's why it's locked in a vault.
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Old 03-15-2011, 06:30 PM   #11
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Re: Battery Dies in a week!!!

Not everyone can afford a truck vault ! .
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"Why go out preserved when you can go out beat up, worn out, sliding in sideways screaming, Holy Sh!t What A Ride" !!!
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Old 03-15-2011, 06:33 PM   #12
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Re: Battery Dies in a week!!!

Maybe that's why I'm too cheap to get the thing tagged and inspected.
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Old 03-15-2011, 07:05 PM   #13
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Re: Battery Dies in a week!!!

Even the ecm has a fuse right? I'd think by removing all the fuses it would narrow things down to battery cable to starter to fuse panel and stop there. Pretty much. A separate kill switch is a good quick fix but would need to be near the battery to be sure of stopping power beyond that. Still doesn't correct the real problem however.
Kinda like my Dad's 92 Caddy. For years it's had a battery drain. What info he has gained about it is it's VATS related. We don't know anything about it and he's too stubborned to take it to someone who does so he just takes the battery cable loose after each time he's been out in it. I suggested the VATS might can be disabled but he is happy doing it his way. He's 83 by the way.
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Old 03-15-2011, 07:07 PM   #14
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Re: Battery Dies in a week!!!

Dude has a vault?
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Old 03-15-2011, 07:56 PM   #15
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Re: Battery Dies in a week!!!

Quote:
Originally Posted by dishow View Post
i have the very same problem with mine. i will go with the disconnect too.is there a way to put a switch inside the cab?(or is that just being too lazy.LOL) thanks again restorob for this info.
You can use something like this..
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Old 03-15-2011, 08:34 PM   #16
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Re: Battery Dies in a week!!!

Well Boog, When I did my test all dash fuses were laying on the floor mat. All fuses and relays in the under hood panel were thrown in the top cover, All wires were removed from the alternator. I didn't bother with the starter wires because we know the drain would leave once the harness was disconnected from the battery.

Sooo, With results like this and not wanting to tear the whole harness out of the truck or remove every component for testing, I opted for installing the disconnect on the negative side of the battery. In this case the switch can be mounted anywhere on the vehicle without the worry of a longer positive cable shorting out and smoking the truck.

This is the switch I installed, I like the key idea; http://www.summitracing.com/parts/FLA-FR1002/
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The primary function of an Engineer is to make it difficult for the Fabricator and impossible for the Mechanic.


"Why go out preserved when you can go out beat up, worn out, sliding in sideways screaming, Holy Sh!t What A Ride" !!!

Last edited by Restrorob; 03-15-2011 at 08:40 PM.
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Old 03-16-2011, 06:38 AM   #17
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Re: Battery Dies in a week!!!

My 98 did this and we found the radio was doing it. Pulled the fuse for the radio and it solved the problem. The radio still worked when the key was on but the clock and station memory would go away when the truck got turned off.
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Old 03-16-2011, 11:15 AM   #18
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Re: Battery Dies in a week!!!

Radio memory did it? Wow...that's not right......
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Old 03-21-2011, 05:36 AM   #19
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Re: Battery Dies in a week!!!

My 90 is doing this every since my heat controls started messing up. After a few weeks and several tests at parts stores, I got into truck at night and noticed my heat control buttons were dimly lite. But only key off and dash lights off and everything.
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Old 03-25-2011, 03:58 PM   #20
jay55jay
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Re: Battery Dies in a week!!!

Ok So I just got around to testing this short issue. I did the test lite trick and I found 2 big fuses that effect the lite. Now the test lite is Dim just enough to lite the filament. When I pull the battery fuse out it goes out totally. When I pull the lighting fuse it dims half of what it was. I dont know what to make of it. There are no lights on at all any thought....
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