I have an 86 F-150 with 302.
This past Monday I went to start it and the battery was dead. Since the battery was old I just went and got a new one. Started the truck and everything seemed fine. This afternoon I go to start the truck and the battery is dead again. This time I did a quick charge and then did an Amp draw check in series with the battery. It is pulling 2.5 amps, the key is not in the ignition. Nothing is on as far as I can tell. Any idea on what may be causing the drain?

Thanks,
STACK

 

Do you have anything after market like a Stereo or Amp installed?

 

It don't matter if it's aftermarket or not.
The Factory Clock, the EEC computer, and some Factory radios all draw battery power for the memory circut.

The only real way to isolate the problem, is to remove one fuse at a time at the fuse panel. Keep doing this until the large draw drops, then you have an idea where the short is.

If you still have that large draw with all the fuses removed, etc... then it's a circut protected by either a circut breaker, like the headlamps and the wipers, or by a fuse link like the ignition switch.
As I said, pulling the fuses will help narrow down the large draw to a specific circut.

Good Luck.

 

OK, as directed I pulled fuses and then went to the Fusable Links.
The one causing the amp draw is an Orange Fusable link coming off the hot post at the starter solenoid. The other two links (Green and Brown) and identified on the elec drawing I have but not the Orange. It is 16 Gauge and the wire going into the loom is black with orange stripe. Anyone have an idea what this goes to?
Thanks,
STACK

 

Orange Fuse Link. Protects Black/Orange stripe wire going to Headlamps circut, and also feeds the fuse panel.

First thing I'd do is check the wires around the headlamp switch. Any melted wires near the plug or switch? A comon problem. Also unplug the headlamp switch, does the draw go away? You may need a new switch.


If the draw quits with headlamp switch unplugged its the switch.

If it doesn' go away with the headlamp switch unplugged it's the wiring, between the headlamp switch, and/or the fuse panel and/or the fuse link.

Hope this helps.

 

If your truck has an ammeter then the Black/Orange wire from the Orange Fuse Link goes to the Voltage Regulator Terminal "A" (via a splice and a Yellow/White Dots wire), the Ammeter Circuit, the Alternator "B" (or battery) Terminal and a host of other circuits including the headlights and ignition switch (through additional fuse links). I'd guess the problem is in either the voltage regulator or the alternator; try disconnecting them one at a time before working toward the ignition and lighting circuits.

 

I too, would hook everything back up, and disconnect the wires on the alternator, and see if the drain goes away. If it does, replace the alternator.

 

Not according to the ford diagrams. According to what stack86 described, he should have warning lights not gauges according to the ford diagrams. (though probably should have confirmed if he has gauges or idiot lights) Three fuse links come off the starter solenoid with trucks with Warning lights. The Orange fuse link comes off of the starter solenoid, (as stack86 described) goes to splice-210 continues as circut 38 Black/orange stripe wire, goes to splice-218 where one side feeds the fuse panel circuts F-7, F-5, F-8, and F-4. The other side goes to the headlamp switch. This circut does not hook into the altenator at all according to the diagrams. If the truck had gauges, there would be only one fuse link coming off the starter solenoid and would be black or black/orange stripe. It would go to splice-219, then to splice-201, where circut 655-Red/orange stripe, circut 38 Black/orange stripe shunt, and circut-38 yellow/white converge the black/orange stripe shunt goes to splice-202 where 654-yellow/light green wire and 37-yellow wire hooks in. Circut 38-Black orange from this splice continues to the altenator. circut 37 yellow wire continues to connector-610 then continues to splice-211 where the orange and green fuse links is located on the passenger inner fender. Notice they are not hooked to the starter solenoid. Then the circut 38-Black/orange from the orange fuse link continues to the headlamp and fuse panel. So what was described to me by stack-86 and the way the ford diagrams read, the truck should have warning lights, and therefore checking the altenator would be irrelevent cause it is not hooked up to the circut in question. Though if his truck has factory ammeter and oil gauges, that are factory wired, I'll gladly eat crow.

 

Sorry double post

 

81-F-150-Explorere, my truck does have gauges. Not sure why the difference. I will check the Alternator and the V/R first. That is after disconnecting the headlight switch.
Thanks,
STACK

 

According to my '83 Ford manual (I think '85 & '86 is same) there are 3 Fuse links (4 with 460 engine) on the battery terminal of the solenoid. A 16 gauge Orange for those with 40 or 60 A alternators or 14 gauge Green with 70 A alternator that feed the Black/Orange wire. Two Red 18 gauge links; Link N feeds the EEC power relay and Link F goes to trailer brake controller. The 20 gauge Blue is for fuel pump(s) on 460 equipped vehicles. Crow ain't too bad eaten with plenty of salt, I've had plenty in my time.

 

It's not too bad, probably should have taken the feathers off first. LOL. That's what I get for assuming. There can be up to six fuse links hooked to the starter solenoid at any given time. One with gauges states 5 links at any given time...
#301 Red Fuse link for EEC Relay.
#302 Dark Blue Fuse Link for Fuel Pump Relay.
#291 Black Fuse link / Altenator / Ammeter gauge / Headlamp switch / and fuse panel.
#300 Orange fuse link / Electric Brake Controller
#299 Dark Green Fuse link / For auxillery battery / and safety relay.

On trucks with warning lights it can have up to 6 links.

#301 Red for EEC
#302 Dark Blue for fuel pump relay
#300 Orange / For headlamps and fuse block
#299 Dark Green or #300 orange for ignition switch and fuse panel.
#300 another orange fuse link for Electric brake controller.
#299 and yet another Dark Green for Auxillery battery and or accessory relay. The color should be Black or Black/Orange fuse link for gauges, Orange for Warning lights. But i've seen Ford do some color variations that don't always go by their books. Ah well, it'll teach me to make double certain what we are dealing with from now on. The crow tastes terrible, pass the ketchup. LOL.

 

They are wired totally different. Mostly to incorporate the Ammeter gauge.