larry browning mauldin
Contributor
Posts: 445
Loc: New Braunfels,TX
Reg: 08-16-05
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03-08-23 01:36 PM - Post#2855519
Borderline geniuses from other forums might help out here. I have been losing charge on the battery for my 1968 el Camino for several years. A recently-purchased 3-year battery from Autozone replaced the 3-year AZ from 3 1/2years ago. So far, no dead battery.Previously I attempted to find the drainer.In dark garage, no lights on dome, radio, fan, etc. No illumination for headlights, brake, tail, etc. Still, the battery ran down. The only suspect that I had was the fuel gauge did not move when the ignition turned off everything else. Is the fuel gauge "hot" at all times or does it turn off with other electrics? Thanks for any input. Larry
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Tony1963
Frequent Contributor
Posts: 2199
Loc: Orlando Florida
Reg: 07-09-18
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03-08-23 04:28 PM - Post#2855537
In response to larry browning mauldin
The fuel gauge gets power through the ignition switch, unless someone has rewired the car incorrectly.
It shouldn't take too much to find your battery drain. Here's how.
Buy an amp clamp. Put it around the positive battery cable. Observe the number of amps being drawn.
Then, since you have only a few fuses, remove them all and keep them organized so that you keep the right amp fuse in the right spot later. Inspect all of the fuses while you have them out.
Look at the amp reading with all fuses out. It is likely zero.
Then, insert one fuse at a time until you see amps being drawn. Keep the dome light switch closed as you have the door open so to not pull amps from the interior lighting.
As soon as you see amps being drawn, that's the circuit(s) involved.
| People fear change because it threatens what they know, or what they claim to know. |
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bobb
Super Senior Member
Posts: 6297
Loc: paradise
Reg: 09-05-03
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03-11-23 06:50 PM - Post#2855660
In response to larry browning mauldin
uh, fuel gauge is not like modern cars that it goes off with key off. alternator is a common cause as is glove box light. all you need is a light bulb with wire to test basic circuits.
| 70 L camino, grampa engine, g-force 5 spd, road rage suspension. Pray first before all else fails. |
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