solution to battery drain problem? what do you guys think?
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solution to battery drain problem? what do you guys think?
I had a problem with battery drain right after i changed the ignition tumbler in my 1981 ford f-150 4+4. Before i changer the tumbler i did notice that there was some play in the ignition, but i figured it was just due to the fact it was an older truck. So with the tumbler replace the battery drain problem started. Thought it might be the altenator, so i put a new one in. Still had the drain. So after a lot of research and talking to some people i came up with this theroy. If the actuator rod in the steering column is not returning to its proper position, (like i said before with the excessive play and after starting the truck having to pull the key back a bit to stop the starter from continuing to turn) im thinking that even with the truck off and the key out my power drain could be coming from there. What do you guys think? As im not much of a mechanic, any help is greatly appreciated. Heck im still looking for my 5/10ths wrench...lmao.
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Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Virginia
No need to guess. I know you can't see electricity, but the above testlight setup will let you "see" the drain. Get that setup like the diagram above, and then play with the keyswitch to see if the light goes out. To anyone else having this problem, if you think it might be the alternator, just pull the wires off of it, and see if the light goes out. If you think its something else in the truck, just start pulling fuses till the light goes out. If you think it might be a amplifier or something else added in, just pull the power wire off for that component, and see if the light goes out.
