Need help in trouble shooting a battery drain . It drains in 2 days. 68 w 350. Thanx

I'll assume you do not have a meter.

The cheap way to do this is to pull fuses one at a time until you isolate the problem circuit. This will be very, very slow since you have to pull the fuse and wait two days to see if that was the problem.

Once you locate the circuit that is messed up, check all connections. You are looking to see if there is crud in there that is shorting out or broken parts that will cross the circuit. If that doesn't work, look for a chaffed wire on the hot side.

I'd really suggest getting a meter. Sears, 50 to 70 bucks for a good one. You can also get one for less but plan on spending at least 30-40 minumum. Buy the book on using meters while you're at it. It will last you a life time and will work in the shop and the home.

Good luck. Personally, those kind of problems drive me crazy.

Rick O'Loughlin
'69 RS-SS

Disconnect alternator RED wire and isolate from ground. Let sit for two days and see if discharged. Alts have a very high resistance to ground through the diodes. May have one going bad.

As Scoop suggests, pull a fuse one at a time until current goes away, then troubleshoot that circuit.

Also, look at the terminal block on rad support next to the battery. It is not isolated on the back side, One has to remove block to see, I have seen rust build up from the stud and create a path to ground to conduit current. That was a b***h to find that one.

Everett 68/350/PG/11.90/115mph

Or you can disconnect the positive side of the battery and put a 12 volt test light from the positive cable to the positive post then start pulling fuses and when the light goes out you have found your circuit and no need to wait 2 days. Also works for the alternator, just unhook the red charge wire from the case and if it goes out then you do have a bad diode but should not light if the diode is bad and all fuses are out.

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68 RS, Ash Gold,pwr windows,Hounds tooth,355/T350,Autometer guage pod

CA420,I've always done that test,with the negative post.Maybe it works both ways?

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68 z28 ,68 rs 327 ,73 454 vette, 2 goofy kids

CA420: Very nice, thanks!!! It never occured to me.

Original: Remember some, (not many) circuits are suppose to be open.


Rick O'Loughlin

Beats trying to look at an LCD display, But I do also have a meter. I find that the light is easier to watch since you will almost always be working alone.

Don't get all bent out of shape Rick, we are all here to help.

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68 RS, Ash Gold,pwr windows,Hounds tooth,355/T350,Autometer guage pod

No, I meant it. Thanks! Really. I thought it was a great trick that just had not hit my noggin. It's easier than using a meter.

Takes a lot to get me bent.

Cool Rick. Some people get a little carried away on here and we have even lost some talented individuals because of it. Take Care

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68 RS, Ash Gold,pwr windows,Hounds tooth,355/T350,Autometer guage pod