battery drain
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
From: Cadillac, Michigan
battery drain
i have a 1982 Ford F100 stepside, the light switch shorted out and melted a couple wires, in retaped the wires so there isn't any bare wires, but now I have a problem with the battery going dead if I don"t start it and run everyday. is it possible it is the light switch that is draining the battery? Thanks for any ideas.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 32,875
Likes: 48
From: Northeast, OK
Are there any lights on? But yes, it is possible.
And, the way to check is to pull the positive battery cable and either out a DVM between the plosives post and the cable or a very small 12v light bulb. Check to see the current draw or if the light comes on. If more than about 10 milliamperes or if the light comes on the. You have a problem. Start pulling fuses to find out what it is. But, if even then you still have a draw pull the fusible link from the hot side of the solenoid. That's the smaller wire on the battery-side stud and it supplies power to the cab - and to the headlight switch.
And, the way to check is to pull the positive battery cable and either out a DVM between the plosives post and the cable or a very small 12v light bulb. Check to see the current draw or if the light comes on. If more than about 10 milliamperes or if the light comes on the. You have a problem. Start pulling fuses to find out what it is. But, if even then you still have a draw pull the fusible link from the hot side of the solenoid. That's the smaller wire on the battery-side stud and it supplies power to the cab - and to the headlight switch.
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,636
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From: Orlando area
I assume you replaced the light switch after it shorted out - so there is no chance any contacts in the light switch are fused. Have you verified that there are no lights on (like glove box or dome lights)?
You can check for amperage flow at the battery with an amp meter. Do you have one? There is also a way to check (less accurately) with a test light. Let us know what testing equipment you have.
Once you verify there actually is a drain, you can start by pulling the fuse one at a time until the drain is gone, and that will tell you what circuit has the drain.
You can check for amperage flow at the battery with an amp meter. Do you have one? There is also a way to check (less accurately) with a test light. Let us know what testing equipment you have.
Once you verify there actually is a drain, you can start by pulling the fuse one at a time until the drain is gone, and that will tell you what circuit has the drain.
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 244
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From: Cadillac, Michigan
battery drain
ok so I took the dash apart so I could check for any wires melted together,i got it all taped up and good but I seen that the wire loop that goes on the back of the speedometer housing had a burnt piece on it luckily I had the original piece I put it all back together now the truck wont start.i have no idea why, all I did was tape up the wires that were burnt and put the other wire tape back on. the loop that was burnt in a spot didn't seem to bother anything maybe that was the drain on the battery.im stuck now, I have no idea what went wrong 
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 244
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From: Cadillac, Michigan
battery drain
it has all the lights working blinkers etc. it rolls over but wont start now.i did nothing that should keep it from starting. unless it is in the band on the housing. not sure. im done for today im gonna mess with it tomarrow.ill let you know what ive done and what im doing!it just has me stumped.i don't know what I done to have it not start.
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Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
From: Cadillac, Michigan
battery drain
well as it goes I have no garage, and it is raining. As soon as I get a chance I will go check for spark. thanks for all the help so far. I will get back on as soon as I get a chance to check for spark. The one thing I was thinking is I dropped the steering colume to have more room to fix the wiring, I wonder if it pulled some wireing loose on the colume? I don't think the speedometer and gauge housing doesent have anthing to do with the truck starting does it? That is for the gauges and speedometer? As soon as I am able i'll go check. Again thank you.
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
From: Cadillac, Michigan
dead battery
ok Gary, I went out between raindrops and checked for spark. no spark, so im thinking something on the steering column? I think ill drop the column again and see if something came loose.i don't know why the coil or relay on the fender would go bad. So im gonna check the column first. what do you think?
FTE Legend
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 32,875
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From: Northeast, OK
It is odd that you are getting it to crank but no spark. The only way I can see that being the column is if you didn't get the plug back into the ignition switch the whole way. That switch both causes it to crank as well as provides juice to the ignition. So it would have to be plugged part way in to get it to crank.