electrical short?
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Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 25
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From: salt lake city
electrical short?
I am trying to trace out an electrical problem that just started for me. When I turn off my truck, the battery goes dead after a few hours. Initially the alternator light is out, but comes back on after 15 - 20 minutes. I looked at the ignition switch and other dash wires, and everything appears to be OK. Anyone got any ideas??
thnx
thnx
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 235
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From: Albany, Oregon
I would start by checking the battery, it might be bad. Before I tear into the wiring (it scares me because I have been known to make matters worse at times when re-doing the wiring) I would also check the alt. If all else fails its one wire at a time.
New User
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Saskatoon
Hi everyone,
A useful tip for diagnosing electrical problems is to disconnect a battery cable and insert a test light between the cable and the battery post. If the light is on, there is a draw on the battery. By doing this, you can start to unplug things until the light goes out. When it does, you have found it. You can also remove fuses one at a time to narrow it to a particular circuit. One thing that gets a lot of people is that by opening a door, it turns on the interior light. Instead of having one draw, now they have two... don't get fooled!
In your case, I would suspect the voltage regulator first. Hook up the test light and see if the light is on. If it is, unplug the voltage regulator and see if it goes out.
Hope this helps.
Rick
A useful tip for diagnosing electrical problems is to disconnect a battery cable and insert a test light between the cable and the battery post. If the light is on, there is a draw on the battery. By doing this, you can start to unplug things until the light goes out. When it does, you have found it. You can also remove fuses one at a time to narrow it to a particular circuit. One thing that gets a lot of people is that by opening a door, it turns on the interior light. Instead of having one draw, now they have two... don't get fooled!
In your case, I would suspect the voltage regulator first. Hook up the test light and see if the light is on. If it is, unplug the voltage regulator and see if it goes out.
Hope this helps.
Rick
