Battery Drain, what am I missing?
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 415
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From: Bearspaw Alberta Canada
Battery Drain, what am I missing?
All of a sudden my battery is draining. I had been tinkering with my horn (putting in a manual button under the dash) but nothing else. Went out to start my truck and I had a dead battery. Alternator checks good, replaced starter relay, horn relay and voltage regulator. What am I missing?
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Butler, IN
Remove the negative battery cable from the battery. Connect an amp meter between the negative cable and the battery post. Test light may work also. It should show a draw. Pull the fuses one at a time, when the needle zeros, you have found which circuit where the short is. Then it is a matter of tracing wires.
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 14,255
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From: Phoenix, Az.
Well, I am betting it has something (by accident) to do with the wiring you changed. The horn,taillamp,turnsignal,and brake lamp curcuits all go through the turn signal switch. By chance are there any taillamps lit up when not supposed to be? Are all the above curcuits working correctly?
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2009
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From: Bearspaw Alberta Canada
I've traced a dead short back to the alternator, I think. The alternator tested good but when I pull either the A or F wires off the voltage regulator the short goes away. Voltage regulator is new. Guess it could be a faulty new voltage regulator as well. Wouldn't be the first part I bought that was defective out of the box.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2012
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From: Las Vegas, NV
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2009
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From: Bearspaw Alberta Canada
Hey Gembone, never heard of a 3G swap until you mentioned it. Definitely going to do that but I'll sort out this problem first. Gembone do you have the details on that 3G alternator? The link to the write up takes you to an attack page.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2012
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From: Las Vegas, NV
here is a link to a lot of very helpful links Resource Link
The top 3 links are for the 3G swap. There is also lots of info on Fordification site
The top 3 links are for the 3G swap. There is also lots of info on Fordification site
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,724
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From: Butler, IN
I've traced a dead short back to the alternator, I think. The alternator tested good but when I pull either the A or F wires off the voltage regulator the short goes away. Voltage regulator is new. Guess it could be a faulty new voltage regulator as well. Wouldn't be the first part I bought that was defective out of the box.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 1,396
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From: Cupertino
51, What do you mean when you write that "the short goes away" when you pull the connections to the charging circuit? Have you done an ohmeter check into the battery cable? What do you read? A short is zero ohms and would cause a spark when you reconnect the battery cable.
I would vote at the man above who says you have a bad battery.
I would vote at the man above who says you have a bad battery.
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2009
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From: Bearspaw Alberta Canada
Took the battery in and had it charged and checked. Comes in at 130%, not the problem.
When I set up a test light as per 19704x4F250 it showed a current draw across the Alternator and Field wires on the voltage regulator. When these wires were disconnected from the VR the test light went out.
Installed another new VR & things looks better. Only 13.6 volts charging but better than the 12.5 with the previous VR. & no current draw across the A & F terminals. I've got my multimeter set up on the battery and I'll watch it for a voltage drop overnight.
Will definitely look into the 3G upgrade...
When I set up a test light as per 19704x4F250 it showed a current draw across the Alternator and Field wires on the voltage regulator. When these wires were disconnected from the VR the test light went out.
Installed another new VR & things looks better. Only 13.6 volts charging but better than the 12.5 with the previous VR. & no current draw across the A & F terminals. I've got my multimeter set up on the battery and I'll watch it for a voltage drop overnight.
Will definitely look into the 3G upgrade...