electrical leak?.. | FerrariChat

electrical leak?..

Discussion in '308/328' started by 89 FERRI, Jun 17, 2011.

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  1. 89 FERRI

    89 FERRI Guest

    Jul 31, 2010
    86
    Cold Spring Harbor ,
    Full Name:
    Elliot Siegel
    I have a 89 328 GTS ,my battery dies after 3 days , when car is not being used . I unhooked the ground side of the battery and let the car sit for 6 days , after 6 days I rebooked the ground and the car started !, Must be a electrical " leak" how do I isolate the leak !'ll
     
  2. DGS

    DGS Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    May 27, 2003
    73,347
    MidTN
    Full Name:
    DGS
    #2 DGS, Jun 17, 2011
    Last edited: Jun 17, 2011
    Remove the battery lead and install an ammeter inline for measuring "car off" power draw.

    Then pull fuses, one at a time, to see if the excess remains.
    When you pull a fuse that kills the excess, that's the circuit that's drawing too much.

    If none of the fuses kills the excess, then it's an aftermarket circuit connected "upstream" of the fuses, and you'll have to trace wiring from the battery.

    Any additional wires connected to the battery "plus" terminal?


    Of course, if you've had this car a while and this is a new symptom, there's a simpler approach:
    What did you have installed just before the problem started?
    E.g.: A stereo with an external amp? A radar detector? A recovery system?

    Over 20+ years, cars tend to pick up a lot of "extras".
    A couple of years back, I dropped my '88 at the dealer and told them to rip out anything that wasn't on the factory wiring diagram.
    It took 10+ hours of labor, and I got back a big box of extra parts. (Remote kill, radar detector, ext amps, and stuff I can't identify.)
    But the Interstate will sit all winter without being drained, now.
     
  3. Paul_308

    Paul_308 Formula 3

    Mar 12, 2004
    2,345
    #3 Paul_308, Jun 18, 2011
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    There is a good chance that the alternator is bad. If DGS suggestions come up blank, have a hard look at the charging circuit. As shown below, the battery is connected to the fuse/relay panel and also to the starter, and from there to the alternator. Bad diodes in the regulator can drain the battery.
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  4. Steve King

    Steve King F1 Rookie

    Feb 15, 2001
    4,367
    NY
    If you have a "leak" you will usually see smoke. That's the way us old Jaguar guys used to find them. Just had to say that.
     

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