electrical guys come in-battery is being drained

wishihadastang125

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Apr 11, 2002

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Houston

Feb 23, 2004

#1

• Feb 23, 2004

• #1

just put a new battery in & it wont hold a charge. hasnt been able to in a while. by the way it its an 85 ranger w/ a carbed 302 so there isnt that much wiring for a short. BUT....the old wiring harness is still in from when it was efi b/e some of the wires are still being used

 

wishihadastang125

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Apr 11, 2002

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Houston

Feb 23, 2004

#2

• Feb 23, 2004

• #2

ttt

 

stephen4785

New Member

Dec 14, 2003

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Fort Worth Texas

Feb 24, 2004

#3

• Feb 24, 2004

• #3

When you changed out your motor did you set your battery on the garge floor?Concrete will drain a battery and when you leave them without a charge for a long time they get sulfated.Have you gotten your battery checked out?If not run down to a parts store or shop and thell usually do it for free.If thats not the case then check the resistance of your battery ground,motor ground, and positive cable to your relay and your starter.If any of them has a higher ohm then 0.1 perf foot then its probably bad.get your battery checked and check your cables and be sure your motor ground is hooked up.

 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?

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Nov 29, 1999

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Feb 24, 2004

#4

• Feb 24, 2004

• #4

they dont hold up real well anyhow. if i dont drive stangie for a 10 days or so, it may or may not want to start. our anemic alternators dont exactly top the batteries off while driving.
you could put a test light in series with the post and cable and start pulling fuses/connectors. it would be interesting to see if you disconnect the battery altogether in the interim you dont drive it, and see if you have the same problems as when it is left connected.
good luck

 

wishihadastang125

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Apr 11, 2002

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Houston

Feb 24, 2004

#5

• Feb 24, 2004

• #5

well the battery is brand new. i didnt do the motor swap. would alot of resistance on a battery cable drain the battery?
thanks
james

 

jrichker

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Dublin GA

Feb 24, 2004

#6

• Feb 24, 2004

• #6

wishihadastang125 said:

well the battery is brand new. i didnt do the motor swap. would alot of resistance on a battery cable drain the battery?
thanks
james

Click to expand...

No, but it could prevent it from charging fully.

 

bock

Founding Member

Jan 7, 2002

648

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Montreal,Qc

Feb 24, 2004

#7

• Feb 24, 2004

• #7

You may check if something is pulling amps ,when the ignition is off.should not have more than a fiew mA.Just hte light in your glove box is anought to drain your battery.(If it's always one)

 

wishihadastang125

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Apr 11, 2002

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Feb 24, 2004

#8

• Feb 24, 2004

• #8

the only thing that is on when the truck is off is the clock on the radio & i dont think that something that uses the same amount of power as a calculater will drain a battery in 2 days.
p.s. no the radio isnt on its an old one that u turn the knob all the way to the left to turn in off & it is off.

 

bock

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Jan 7, 2002

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Montreal,Qc

Feb 24, 2004

#9

• Feb 24, 2004

• #9

check your amps one the positive wire of the battery to be sure.If your battery go down in 2 days,something is pulling power,no?!

 

wishihadastang125

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Houston

Feb 24, 2004

#10

• Feb 24, 2004

• #10

how do i check that? & what should they be at?

 

bock

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Jan 7, 2002

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Montreal,Qc

Feb 24, 2004

#11

• Feb 24, 2004

• #11

By using a multimeter.....


place the multimeter at the amps position,unplug the positive wire and put the multimeter beetween the wire and the battery(DONT START THE CAR) leave the keys in your pockets.should not have more than 20 oe 30 mA.

 

wishihadastang125

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Feb 24, 2004

#12

• Feb 24, 2004

• #12

unplug what positive wire?

 

bock

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Montreal,Qc

Feb 24, 2004

#13

• Feb 24, 2004

• #13

At the battery.

 

wishihadastang125

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Apr 11, 2002

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Houston

Feb 24, 2004

#14

• Feb 24, 2004

• #14

so basicly just put the multimeter inbetween the positive post & terminal?