New Battery is dead.. need help
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Freshman User
Joined: Aug 2003
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New Battery is dead.. need help
Hello,
I have a 78 F250 w/ 460 motor.
I put a new battery in it a few months ago, and let it sit for the winter.
When I went to start it, the battery was dead (as in no dome light at all dead).
I put a new starter in as well as a new ignition coil. Any ideas as to what can be draining the battery? Should I check the solenoid?
Any help would be appreciated as I am not good with electrical matters.
Thanks,
Matt
I have a 78 F250 w/ 460 motor.
I put a new battery in it a few months ago, and let it sit for the winter.
When I went to start it, the battery was dead (as in no dome light at all dead).
I put a new starter in as well as a new ignition coil. Any ideas as to what can be draining the battery? Should I check the solenoid?
Any help would be appreciated as I am not good with electrical matters.
Thanks,
Matt
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 5,241
Likes: 3
From: Other side of the sunrise
Sounds like you may have a dead short somewhere, where a positive wire is grounding out or you have a draw in the system draining the battery. When you either recharge the battery or replace it, check to see if you get a spark when attaching the cables to it. If it sparks, that is an indication that something is on or grounded out somewhere. Before you install the battery, make sure everything is off, all electrical components including ignition.
If everything is off and you get a spark, then start looking for wires with breaks in the insulation touching the body, engine or chassis. A tester would come in handy in your search.
If everything is off and you get a spark, then start looking for wires with breaks in the insulation touching the body, engine or chassis. A tester would come in handy in your search.
Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 26
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I just had the same thing happen. The only difference is that mine would drain overnight. I used a multimeter the same way as shown above except I was testing on the 10 Amp setting. I found out that I had a 2.49 amp draw. After pulling fuses etc under the dash, I found out with the help from some people here that it was in fact my Alternator that was drawing the amps. After I disconnected the alternator, the amps went down to 2.78 mA.
So I replaced the alternator and have not had a problem for about a week. I bought the more expensive alt. from napa that had a life time warranty.
Not sure if this is your problem, but at least you can test it yourself.
hope you get it figured out,
Gus
God Bless America
So I replaced the alternator and have not had a problem for about a week. I bought the more expensive alt. from napa that had a life time warranty.
Not sure if this is your problem, but at least you can test it yourself.
hope you get it figured out,
Gus
God Bless America
