Battery Gremlins

Hi All.
I got a problem with my 64 stang (yes with generator). Last year I had the motor rebuild (289 bored 60 over nice cam performer 2 manifold and edlebrock 600 4 barrel) and ever since intalling it the battery cant keep a charge. After 2-3 days of sitting its dead. I tried replacing the regulator but it didnt help. I disonected the neg lead and with everything off and closed I get 12.6v. I disconnected every fuse and still voltage diconnected the glove box switch still issues. when I plug a am meter in series I get .08A draw. I originally had an issue where the car wouldnt charge or run with battery disconected but now it charges and will run. what should be my next coarse of action. disconect the wires from the regulator, generator and then starter? could I have a bad ignition switch I know when I disconect the wiring harness near the brake cylender on the firewall in the engine compartment the issue goes away but not sure how much that helps.
thanks
andy

MERRY CHRISTMAS
 
Mine used to do the same. I replaced the battery, nothin. Replaced the alternator, nothing. Finally replaced the voltage regualtor and it fixed it. Dont know what to tell you since you said you already replaced the regualtor.
 
I would reconnect everything and start from scratch. Every power line has to come from the battery, ignition, or the starter solenoid. Since the problem goes away when you diconnect at the firewall, I would say start at the solenoid. Just about eveything that comes that far if not all ( not positive ) goes to the solenoid for power. Take of the nut and slowly start taking them of one at a time to see when the .08a draw disappears. Then I would trace that wire back, or look in a wiring diagram and decode the bugger to see where it runs, and start there.
 
64moneypit said:
hmm only after market stuff is a Tachometer and tripple gauge cluster (already disonnected the cluster. no lights to it but oil pressure and temp work.) hmm maybe temp gauge issue?

Put your meter back on it and have somebody watch it. Unplug the regulator and see if you lose the .8amps. if you don't start pulling fuses, if your lucky what ever is on is running threw a fuse. If still no luck just start disconnecting anything you can think of, eventually you'll have to lose the draw. Good luck, I hate those little gremlins :D
 
well I pulled all fuses again still voltage. disconect starter still got. unplug other wire junction on firewall still got (has coil other wires to relayand something else). when disconecting the regulator field and coil i think no change but when remove battery lose voltage. only thing I think on that wire are ignition switch and lights.
disconnected driver door switch and glove box no change... will try more tomorrow....
how do I remove the ignition switch
thanks
 
64moneypit said:
well I pulled all fuses again still voltage. disconect starter still got. unplug other wire junction on firewall still got (has coil other wires to relayand something else). when disconecting the regulator field and coil i think no change but when remove battery lose voltage. only thing I think on that wire are ignition switch and lights.
disconnected driver door switch and glove box no change... will try more tomorrow....
how do I remove the ignition switch
thanks

Put the key in and turn to accessory position, then get a paperclip and stick it in the small hole in the front of the switch, beside the key. When you push the paperclip you are pushing a small button that will allow you to turn the key past accessory and the tombler set will come out with the key. Then you can unscrew the front bezel from the switch and the switch will flal out the back of the dash.
 
I am really beginning to hate electrical issues. todays agenda. disconnect starter relay wires (keeping battery and black yellow connected) still issues disconnect all regulator wires still got when black/yellow wires are connected. disconnect coil distributer and relay wires from firewall plug still got. disconnect door switches still got. pull instrument cluster and diconnect all wires. still got disconnect ignition switch still got. disconnect light and winshield washer switches still got... ( all of this with all fuses pulled) got creative and disconnected the main plug bringing power into the inside of the care and only had the black/yellow wire bridged into the car (basically disconnected all components under hood and lighting) still got... when battery reads 11.87 volt I get same between neg terminal and neg lead at .08A. calling local garage tomorrow to schedule work ... tune the carb. find out why gas gauge dont work and electrical drain. calling Roy at Car Classics on dixie highway in Hollywood FL. he's been a wrench on stangs for 25+years in U.S. and England. and thoughts or different stratigy?
 
64moneypit said:
I am really beginning to hate electrical issues. todays agenda. disconnect starter relay wires (keeping battery and black yellow connected) still issues disconnect all regulator wires still got when black/yellow wires are connected. disconnect coil distributer and relay wires from firewall plug still got. disconnect door switches still got. pull instrument cluster and diconnect all wires. still got disconnect ignition switch still got. disconnect light and winshield washer switches still got... ( all of this with all fuses pulled) got creative and disconnected the main plug bringing power into the inside of the care and only had the black/yellow wire bridged into the car (basically disconnected all components under hood and lighting) still got... when battery reads 11.87 volt I get same between neg terminal and neg lead at .08A. calling local garage tomorrow to schedule work ... tune the carb. find out why gas gauge dont work and electrical drain. calling Roy at Car Classics on dixie highway in Hollywood FL. he's been a wrench on stangs for 25+years in U.S. and England. and thoughts or different stratigy?

Just for the hell of it, pull the battery and wash and dry it, then recheck it, I've had pretty good drains from a dirty battery that was leaking threw the case.
 
no no issue with solenoid removed from picture and just connected the bat lead and the bk/y wire..

could always pull the motor, rims and gas tank then cover with gasoline and set it on fire... great way to remove paint, bondo and electrical gremlins. then start from scratch LOL
 
well took the car to the shop this am.
got a call from the tech this afternoon.
time to B/slap the step son. come to find out when the rebuilt motor was installed he rewired the tach to a constant power wire and not a switched one so it was draining the battery. other issues found were....
voltage regulator was bad constant 16+volts (at least the generator is good)
the excess voltage burned out the points
vacuum leak at carb and vacuum advance tube on wrong port.
found out need a new sending unit for gas gauge. and he tuned the carb and rehung the exhaust a bit better to quiet a few rattles. so for troubleshooting the electrical and fixing it, vacuum issues, exhaust, tuning, gas gauge issues and charging stuff. with all labor and parts $400. the thing that made him unhappy is I got a full tank of gass and he needs to drain it to change the sending unit.