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240 battery drain after sitting over winter.

O

odinthewanderer

Active member
Joined
Aug 9, 2009
Location
new hampshire
Alrighty, 90 245 aw70, stock heap.

The car charged fine before sitting over the winter. I attempted to begin running it again and now i get a pretty steady battery drain, no charging, etc. I am glad i did not move it durring the winter only to have the battery frozen killed.

Grounds to the charging system test fine, and externally jumping them does not change anything.

However, i get only get the CEL, service light, oil, and the OD/downshift arrow when switching the ignition to position 2. Of those the service light and od/downshift arrow both go off nearly immediately one after the other.
When i ground the alternators exciter wire i get all appropriate dash warning lights on solid when in position 2 on the ignition switch like i should.

Anybody have any suggestion where to go next, i am guessing something is shorted, ...but where. Any help is much appreciated!

Thanks everyone!
 
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TestPoint said:
Any precious little mice winter over with the heap?
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Yea, the question there is not of mice or not, but of how many. However nothing looks obviously disturbed so far, i'll pull the instrument panel tomorrow. We have some in the kitchen I am currently hunting. I don't care if i hear them from time to time, but when i see them... its bad.
 
also, with key off i get full bat voltage with the meter running from the exciter wire post on the alt, to the positive post on the bat.

...and i get full continuity between the exciter post and ground.
 
If you ground the small red exciter wire at the alternator to the alternator case and get all the appropriate lights. Then if you measure the voltage on the wire at 12V when on and not grounded then the alternator may have a non functioning exciter circuit.

Probably a bad alternator. I just had one with a bad exciter circuit that had shorted internally. This car sat over the winter, too.
 
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dl242gt said:
If you ground the small red exciter wire at the alternator to the alternator case and get all the appropriate lights. Then if you measure the voltage on the wire at 12V when on and not grounded then the alternator may have a non functioning exciter circuit.

Probably a bad alternator. I just had one with a bad exciter circuit that had shorted internally. This car sat over the winter, too.
Click to expand...

Thanks! i'll check it tomorrow morning, gotta get kids in bed and pick up the kitchen before the boss gets home!
 
oh wait i did those things already. i would not mind having a spare i run a few of these cars, so i may just purchase an alt...
any recommendations on which are not junk? I'll assume the one in the car is what ever napa stocks, as the car was used as a parts runner for them before it got "totaled" and i bought it.
 
TestPoint said:
On easy to replace items like the alternator I usually choose lowest cost/life time warranty things.
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I have heard of way too many dying to be much interested in that direction. If i was the only driver of this car, i hear you, but my wife tires of me having to come deal with vehicles that have left her stranded...
 
dl242gt said:
If you don't get the lifetime warranty one then I'd suggest a bosch or denso. They have lasted the best for me.
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Thankyou,
Looks like i am going with a used, known good 100 amp denso, from Phil.

I still wonder if that really is the issue... this car never really charged all that well to be honest, i may throw new cables and wires at it too.
 
Bready said:
Have you had the actual battery tested?
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No, so i am not certain, however, it will hold a charge overnight etc, and rapidly drains on running. No warning light on position 2, but good bulb has me looking else where. I can try another bat from a daily driven car when my wife is next off.
...and then there is the full continuity between exciter post and ground, and bat voltage from exciter post to positive terminal, that does not stink of bad battery to me.
 
odinthewanderer said:
No, so i am not certain, however, it will hold a charge overnight etc, and rapidly drains on running. No warning light on position 2, but good bulb has me looking else where. I can try another bat from a daily driven car when my wife is next off.
...and then there is the full continuity between exciter post and ground, and bat voltage from exciter post to positive terminal, that does not stink of bad battery to me.
Click to expand...

I've had batteries go not infrequently, especially if they've been jumped several times or drained and charged. Might just try a second one that's verified good to see if that resolves your issue.

Get yourself a quick-disconnect for your battery moving forward and your problem will be solved.

I'm willing to bet a dollar you need a new battery. :)
 
Bready said:
I've had batteries go not infrequently, especially if they've been jumped several times or drained and charged. Might just try a second one that's verified good to see if that resolves your issue.

Get yourself a quick-disconnect for your battery moving forward and your problem will be solved.

I'm willing to bet a dollar you need a new battery. :)
Click to expand...

I'll find out, i need another 240 battery anyway for a different car, so i will pick another up, but the 100 amp denso from Phil came today.

This makes me think it is not the battery alone: "...and then there is the full continuity between exciter post and ground, and bat voltage from exciter post to positive terminal, that does not stink of bad battery to me."

Edit, i say there is full continuity, but that is not actually totally correct. 17 Ohms.
 
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Drain only when running but no drain while off? Points me at the battery and alt. Easier to pull both, take them to the parts shop and test them both. While you’re at it, check the b+ wire from the alt to the chassis for continuity as well, a small current leak in the charging system can give similar symptoms. I doubt it, but never rule something out based on doubt.
 
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