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Draining the battery

Forum: C3 Electrical, Body and Interior

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Draining the battery

Posted: 3/23/07 6:29pmMessage 1 of 9
o
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Rocklin, CA - USA
Joined: 4/2/2005
Posts: 484
Vette(s): 1970 T-Top350/350hp numbers matching 4 speed. It's a mess and 1970 Convertible 4 speed.
Hey I just pick up a 70 vette and something is draining the battery what are the possibility's?
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Draining the battery

Posted: 3/23/07 6:36pmMessage 2 of 9
r
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North Charleston, SC - USA
Joined: 3/20/2004
Posts: 4208
Vette(s): 1975 L48 AT AC T-top
If it has an alarm that's a good place to start. It could also be an interior light staying on. If you have a multi-meter there is a procedure for checking for the drain. There are numerous threads on here talking about drains. If you can't find it, PM me and I will explain it to you.
Scott
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Draining the battery

Posted: 3/23/07 6:41pmMessage 3 of 9
B
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Ashburn, VA - USA
Joined: 3/16/2007
Posts: 48
Vette(s): 1979 L-48 Coupe, 4-speed, Blue/Blue, in family 20 years
I had a reputable 'vette shop owner tell me that one of the most common causes is the glove box light remaining lit!
 
To check for that you can remove the bulb.
 
That was NOT my problem, which has still not been identified.  Confused  Right now I have a rotary cut-off switch attached to the ground post of the battery.
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Draining the battery

Posted: 3/23/07 6:57pmMessage 4 of 9
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Frederick, MD - USA
Joined: 9/8/2003
Posts: 3398
Vette(s): 1969 convertible L71 427/435 4-speed black interior
'70s don't have glove boxes...but you're right. The glove box light is a major source of the problems in '78 and later C3's.
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Draining the battery

Posted: 3/23/07 9:41pmMessage 5 of 9
B
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Ashburn, VA - USA
Joined: 3/16/2007
Posts: 48
Vette(s): 1979 L-48 Coupe, 4-speed, Blue/Blue, in family 20 years
[QUOTE=Gunslinger]'70s don't have glove boxes...[/QUOTE]
 
Whoops.  Embarrassed  Don't I feel foolish. Forgot....
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Draining the battery

Posted: 3/23/07 10:08pmMessage 6 of 9
o
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Rocklin, CA - USA
Joined: 4/2/2005
Posts: 484
Vette(s): 1970 T-Top350/350hp numbers matching 4 speed. It's a mess and 1970 Convertible 4 speed.
Hey no problem thanks for the input
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Draining the battery

Posted: 3/23/07 11:20pmMessage 7 of 9
T
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East Hanover, NJ - USA
Joined: 9/25/2004
Posts: 525
Vette(s): '68 Black Conv. Matching 327/300 4 Spd. P/S, P/B, P/W, Tele, A/C

Actually, the switch in the center rear compartment (I thought that was my glove box) is a likely culprit.  A lot of time the lid does not close or the switch is bad.

I have been told that another drain may be the wiper override switch, if left in the on position.
 
Since I've owned my car, I've had a pretty bad drain.  Since I put a battery disconnect in, I have had no problems since.  Hopefully, during my interior restoration I'll figure out what is causing this problem. 
 
Good luck,

Anthony
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Draining the battery

Posted: 3/24/07 2:24pmMessage 8 of 9
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Manteca, CA - USA
Joined: 11/20/2005
Posts: 3623
Vette(s): 1978,two tone,Metalic Rootbeer & gold 1975 L48 4 speed
Yep, I have a 78 with the same problem. Of course, I don't start it but once a month sometimes. Some sources tell me the clock can contribute but I find that hard to believe. Guess I'll just have to drive it more often, BOO Hoo.
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Draining the battery

Posted: 3/29/07 6:26pmMessage 9 of 9
A
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Joined: 2/25/2007
Posts: 17
I had a severe drain issue on my 72 following some engine work. Battery would go flat within 24 hours. Following weeks of annoying dead batteries I finally tracked the issue down.
 
During the engine work I noticed some cracked insulation on the wiring going to the two position connector on the alternator. Turns out  that during the process of trimming and re-crimping the terminals I incorrectly re-installed them (reversed them) inside the connector.
 
Felt pretty silly when I found the problem, happy to find it just the same.
Not likely to be the same issue you are seeing but you never know.
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