battery dies while parked - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

brennecke · 05-17-2002, 09:25 AM

If I let my truck sit without driving it for more than one day, the battery is dead as a doornail. If I charge it up, everything is good as long as I drive it regularly. I replaced the alternator a couple weeks ago. It and the volt regulator were both shot. Since then I haven't had this problem until yesterday when the truck sat a couple of days without starting.
I figure thers a short or missing ground or something. Whats the best way to track it down?

goat455 · 05-17-2002, 10:14 AM

I have the same problem with my 72. I know the charging system is fine because it charges a dead battery just fine. If I let the truck sit for a few days I'll come back to a dead battery. I've been disconnecting the battery from their post and connect them a week later and vroom no problem. Seems I have a short somewhere but where? Yes, any advice from fellow truckers where to begin looking?

HuggerCST · 05-17-2002, 10:30 AM

Here's the way I would do it: Disconnect one of your battery cables, ( either one ), Take a 12 volt test light and clip it to your cable, then touch the test light probe to the battery post that the cable was disconnected from. If you have a short, or anything draining the battery, the test light will light up. (make sure all the lights, and radio is turned off) Start pulling fuses, or unplugging stuff like the alt, and reg. When the light goes out, you've found the circuit.

tom hand · 05-17-2002, 10:34 AM

Disconect the positive cable. Now hook a meter or test light between the cable and battery. Any reading or light indicates a drain. Now take one fuse out at a time till the meter reads nothing or the light goes out. Now you know what circuit has the short and you can begin your search.

------------------
72 GMC Sierra SWB almost finished---- 84 Softail
Olive Branch MS

brennecke · 05-17-2002, 10:35 AM

Thanks. I knew there was a way to check.

barn9 · 05-17-2002, 10:38 AM

I had that problem last year, and it turned out to be my horn relay. Coincedentally, I had just installed a new steering wheel and the piece of crap horn kit that went with it. Point being, if you have recently changed or added anything electrical, that's the best place to start.

------------------[*]'71 Cheyenne, 402BB[*]Winfield, KS[*] http://barn9.freeservers.com

**MikeB** · 05-17-2002, 05:20 PM

Next time you shut off the motor, disconnect the ground cable from the battery. You now have no path for discharge - zero, none. If it starts in a couple days, that means you have a drain on the battery somewhere. If it doesn't start (this is my bet) your battery is bad because it won't hold a charge for very long. Same thing happened to me and I kept refusing to believe it was the battery. It was. By the way, I bought a 900 amp-hour Champion battery at Sam's Club for around $32. Take that, Pep Boys!

------------------
MikeB
69 C-10 Fleetside, mild 383, Dart Iron Eagle heads, Crane Energizer 266 cam and 1.6 roller rockers, Edelbrock Performer manifold and 600cfm carb, HEI w/ MSD components, 1986 front spindles/disc brakes, Vintage Air in-dash.

da-burb · 05-17-2002, 10:47 PM

FYI, the last 3 trucks I had with this problem- it was the horn relay. If your horn currently does not work, start there.

You can also just use your test light at the fuse box. Charge the battery and keep it connected, pull a fuse and touch the ground clip to one side of the terminal and the probe point to the other. If it lights there is a drain in that circuit. It will at least narrow your search down. Watch out for dome lights and radios with clocks. Everything should be off when doing the test.

------------------
1971 C-10 Suburban
1972 C-10 Suburban
1969 XL Galaxie Fastback
1968 Galaxie 500 Fastback
1974 SCOUT II

Montrose, Minnesota

goat455 · 05-17-2002, 11:28 PM

the horn relay gotta be it! damm horn doesn't work, so maybe that's it. thanks for the tips guys.. I'll check it out tomorrow and maybe brennecke will solve his problem too..

*Fast68Chevy* · 05-18-2002, 11:18 AM

also sometimes could be bad regulator, IE bad contact point set in it, stuck closed(contacted)

good luck

------------------
Randy- Lincoln, IL
randy@ccaonline.com 2177353230
*many GM parts bought, traded, or sold -am parting out: '81 Cutlass Supreme and 84 SE Firebird T5 3.73

current fleet: -71 C-10 350/CH465/3.07- assembling currently
-90 Cavalier/2.2/sky blue, driver #2
-84 Z28 5.0L/700R4/3.73 daily driver #1
-'90 Corsica 3.1L and '82 purple Trans Am- storing *Paint is overrated* © RSS Enterprises 2000

05-17-2002, 10:30 AM	#3
HuggerCST Registered User Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: North Louisiana Posts: 4,501	Here's the way I would do it: Disconnect one of your battery cables, ( either one ), Take a 12 volt test light and clip it to your cable, then touch the test light probe to the battery post that the cable was disconnected from. If you have a short, or anything draining the battery, the test light will light up. (make sure all the lights, and radio is turned off) Start pulling fuses, or unplugging stuff like the alt, and reg. When the light goes out, you've found the circuit. __________________ Wynne 70 CST short fleet Hugger orange & white, 350/350, ps, pb, air, tilt, tach/vac/speedwarning, original buckets, AM/FM, oak bed floor, shoulder belts, 3.5"/5.5" drop, 20" American Racing VN425s. Build thread 53 Chevy shortbed 69 Camaro Click here to subscribe Chevy GMC International Truck Club Louisiana Charter Member http://www.louisianaclassictruckclub.com

05-17-2002, 10:34 AM	#4
tom hand CCRider Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Olive Branch,MS,USA Posts: 2,232	Disconect the positive cable. Now hook a meter or test light between the cable and battery. Any reading or light indicates a drain. Now take one fuse out at a time till the meter reads nothing or the light goes out. Now you know what circuit has the short and you can begin your search. ------------------ 72 GMC Sierra SWB almost finished---- 84 Softail Olive Branch MS __________________ 72 GMC Sierra SWB almost finished---- 84 Softail Olive Branch MS

05-17-2002, 10:35 AM	#5
brennecke Registered User Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Missouri Posts: 469	Thanks. I knew there was a way to check. __________________ Never tire of doing what is right II Thess. 3:13 Northeast Missouri 71 LWB original 350 3/speed Soon to be 500

05-17-2002, 10:38 AM	#6
barn9 Half a bubble off! Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Winfield, Ks, USA Posts: 5,588	I had that problem last year, and it turned out to be my horn relay. Coincedentally, I had just installed a new steering wheel and the piece of crap horn kit that went with it. Point being, if you have recently changed or added anything electrical, that's the best place to start. ------------------[]'71 Cheyenne, 402BB[]Winfield, KS[*] http://barn9.freeservers.com __________________ Just call me LB. '71 Cheyenne, 402BB, hauls blondes, brunettes, or redheads.

05-17-2002, 05:20 PM	#7
MikeB Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: North Texas Posts: 3,430	Next time you shut off the motor, disconnect the ground cable from the battery. You now have no path for discharge - zero, none. If it starts in a couple days, that means you have a drain on the battery somewhere. If it doesn't start (this is my bet) your battery is bad because it won't hold a charge for very long. Same thing happened to me and I kept refusing to believe it was the battery. It was. By the way, I bought a 900 amp-hour Champion battery at Sam's Club for around $32. Take that, Pep Boys! ------------------ MikeB 69 C-10 Fleetside, mild 383, Dart Iron Eagle heads, Crane Energizer 266 cam and 1.6 roller rockers, Edelbrock Performer manifold and 600cfm carb, HEI w/ MSD components, 1986 front spindles/disc brakes, Vintage Air in-dash. __________________ Mike 1969 C10 LWB -- owned for 34 years. 350/TH350, 3.08 posi, 1st Gen Vintage Air, AAW wiring harness, 5-lug conversion, 1985 spindles and brakes. 1982 C10 SWB -- sold 1981 C10 Silverado LWB -- sold, but wish I still had it! 1969 C10 (not the current one) that I bought in the early 1980s. Paid $1200; sold for $1500 a few years later. Just a hint at the appreciation that was coming. Retired as a factory automation products salesman. Worked part-time over the years for an engine builder and a classic car repair shop. Member here for 23 years! This is the very first car/truck Internet forum I joined. I still used a dial-up modem back then!

05-17-2002, 09:25 AM	#1
brennecke Registered User Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Missouri Posts: 469	battery dies while parked If I let my truck sit without driving it for more than one day, the battery is dead as a doornail. If I charge it up, everything is good as long as I drive it regularly. I replaced the alternator a couple weeks ago. It and the volt regulator were both shot. Since then I haven't had this problem until yesterday when the truck sat a couple of days without starting. I figure thers a short or missing ground or something. Whats the best way to track it down? __________________ Never tire of doing what is right II Thess. 3:13 Northeast Missouri 71 LWB original 350 3/speed Soon to be 500

05-17-2002, 10:14 AM	#2
goat455 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: So. San Francisco, CA. Posts: 48	I have the same problem with my 72. I know the charging system is fine because it charges a dead battery just fine. If I let the truck sit for a few days I'll come back to a dead battery. I've been disconnecting the battery from their post and connect them a week later and vroom no problem. Seems I have a short somewhere but where? Yes, any advice from fellow truckers where to begin looking?

05-17-2002, 10:47 PM	#8
da-burb "Ochre Ogre" Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Springfield, MN Posts: 3,558	FYI, the last 3 trucks I had with this problem- it was the horn relay. If your horn currently does not work, start there. You can also just use your test light at the fuse box. Charge the battery and keep it connected, pull a fuse and touch the ground clip to one side of the terminal and the probe point to the other. If it lights there is a drain in that circuit. It will at least narrow your search down. Watch out for dome lights and radios with clocks. Everything should be off when doing the test. ------------------ 1971 C-10 Suburban 1972 C-10 Suburban 1969 XL Galaxie Fastback 1968 Galaxie 500 Fastback 1974 SCOUT II Montrose, Minnesota __________________ Bowtie Truck Stop Inc. Mid-West GM Truck Restoration Parts Supplier Your Key Parts, Auto Metal Direct, Dynacorn, and Goodmark dealer. like us @ www.facebook.com/BowtieTruckStop 1971 C-10 Suburban (Ochre) 1971 K-10 Suburban (Ochre) 1972 C-10 Suburban (Ochre) 1972 K-20 Suburban (Yellow- that just aint right!) Springfield, Minnesota 56087

05-17-2002, 11:28 PM	#9
goat455 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: So. San Francisco, CA. Posts: 48	the horn relay gotta be it! damm horn doesn't work, so maybe that's it. thanks for the tips guys.. I'll check it out tomorrow and maybe brennecke will solve his problem too..

05-18-2002, 11:18 AM	#10
Fast68Chevy Account Suspended Join Date: May 2000 Location: IL Posts: 0	also sometimes could be bad regulator, IE bad contact point set in it, stuck closed(contacted) good luck ------------------ Randy- Lincoln, IL randy@ccaonline.com 2177353230 many GM parts bought, traded, or sold -am parting out: '81 Cutlass Supreme and 84 SE Firebird T5 3.73 current fleet: -71 C-10 350/CH465/3.07- assembling currently -90 Cavalier/2.2/sky blue, driver #2 -84 Z28 5.0L/700R4/3.73 daily driver #1 -'90 Corsica 3.1L and '82 purple Trans Am- storing Paint is overrated* © RSS Enterprises 2000



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