88 cabby draining the battery

[NyceKarr]

well, just about all of you know theres something new everyday with a new project. and well today baby gurl didnt start again. i had just replaced the alternator. worked great for a couple days but now no power. once i get it charged up im going to take it to check the battery which should be fine, its less then a year old. but in any sense the reason for this post. if not the battery im going to start to chase wires to see what, if any, is draining the battery. any suggestions as to where i should start. or should i just take apart the dash and go at it??? oh and I ruled out the stereo it has been disconnected since before i swapped out the alternator. (thought this was the problem initially) wish i could be more descriptive but this is what im working with at the moment. thanks in advance.

[CalAltaDubber]

Was the alternator new, or used?
The reason I ask is, if you have a used alternator, the voltage regulator on the alternator may be draining power.
Since you are going to have the battery checked, it might be a good idea to pull the alternator and have it tested too!
If the alternator shows reverse current, replace the voltage regulator. It's two screws to replace, and about $15.

Something easy before you go ripping everything apart.

[gull]

A couple thoughts:

- Do you have a multimeter? If so, you can put it on the amps scale, connect it between the battery post and battery cable, and see the actual current drain. This will help a lot with your troubleshooting, since you can pull fuses or disconnect things and see immediately if it helped.

- I'll tell you right off the bat that my erratic battery drain problem turned out to be water getting into the fusebox, probably from a leaky windshield seal. You may want to crawl under there with a flashlight and see if you can see rust streaks above the fuse panel. A quick fix is to cut a piece of plastic film and tape it up above the fuse panel to redirect any water away from it.

I discovered this problem when I came out one morning and heard the fuel pump running. Pulled the fuel pump relay, and it was still running! I could wiggle the fuse panel and hear the sizzle of electricity conducting through water come and go.

[Briano1234]

Ground effect? Have you replaced your grounds from the battery to the frame and from the frame to the Engine/tranny, then from the rear drivers side valve cover nut to the coils bracket on the fire wall? You can also run an additional ground wire from the Alternator/Block bracket mount to a case nut on the alternator.

A resistive ground can cause all kinds of intermittent problems and on a car that is the age of ours replacement is a given.

I agree with take both to the "Zone" and have it tested, shoot you can have it tested on the car if you ca drive it up there.

On a good running car with great grounds you should see 13.5 to 13.75Vdc on the battery at charge.

Good grounds and cleanliness of the other electrical connections area must.

I agree with putting a VOM in series to the battery and pulling one fuse at a time till you get a .05 reading. Becareful that you don't try to start the car as you will fry your meter..... been there done that, and I know better...... what can I say "Ship Happens."

[NyceKarr]

AWESOME thanks a bunch....

alt was a refurb i believe from advanced... so since i have had problems with them in the past i will have it checked as well as the batt.

my bud is an electrician so im sure he has a multimeter and i would hope knows how to use it... ill get on the asap sounds easy enough to pinpoint from there...and i will be checking for signs of water since i do live in fl and it is rainy season its a very good possibility especially since the car has been sitting for many many months until i bought it who knows what couldve leaked.

and briano...havent gotten that far yet but i have all intentions of replacing the grounds re-running a relay for the head lights things of that nature. im sure that would help if not cure.

really thank you very much, itll be slow going but ill keep you all posted!! thanks!!!!!

[Steve E J]

Make sure that the blue wire is connected and that the battery light on the dash lights when you turn the key to on. I don't believe it will charge the battery without either of those.

[gull]

Make sure that the blue wire is connected and that the battery light on the dash lights when you turn the key to on. I don't believe it will charge the battery without either of those.

That's correct. That connection supplies the initial field current to the alternator. Without it it'll charge erratically or not at all.

[NyceKarr]

not sure about the blue wire... ill check that out later on. thanks

but, i did get the chance to do a bunch of work got the car up to advanced and everything check out ok. battery is good, alternator and starter as well. the kid there was nice enough to put a drain test on it for me, and we pinpointed the stereo as the culprit. WOO i get to rewire fun fun fun...(sarcasm but not really )

i did check the fuse box and no signs of water damage or even a leak....so thats good, but when i rewire the head unit i will be putting in that peice of plastic to redirect the water, better safe then sorry.

Briano- battery tested at 12.72 and the charge read as no load 13.56 and load 13.42. i will eventually run new grounds but seems fine for now no..? and you mentioned a .05 reading where should that be. on the drain? is that the norm it should read or is that what it should read if its being drained. because the drain on the printout reads .04A should that be lower....should it read .00? sorry if i come off as not knowing anything. mainly because i dont. but im learning.

[Briano1234]

The .04 drain is good, the load and no load is good, but if you replace the ground you will be better off.

rewire the stereo and take it for a spin.

Now that I fixed yours, do you want to come over and do a Honda Front Wheel Bearing for me?

[gull]

Now that I fixed yours, do you want to come over and do a Honda Front Wheel Bearing for me?

Doesn't that require replacing the whole front hub assembly, on Hondas?

[Briano1234]

No it is similar to a VW, the hub came out fine used a slide hammer, the rotor screws were frozen, Finally got them to back out with my left handed drill bits, then I got the bearing hammered out, no issues there, All I have to do is cut the inner race off the hub, and then reassemble.

Large Pain in the ASS. Wish I had a press......

[Calimus]

I have a press....just saying