I hope this is the correct section for this.

Two mornings in a row my battery was too weak to turn over the 305 in my pickup.

After an hours charge it started fine and continues to start all day.

I took the battery into Canadian Tire where I bought it 4 months ago and after testing it they said it was bad. I didn't have my warranty card with me so I went home got the card and continued on to the next Canadian tire store (it'* closer). They tested the battery twice and it came up as good both times.

When taking the terminals off the second time I noticed a small spark, so when I got home I put my tester between the terminal and the battery and there is one heck of a lot of juice flowing though there even though everything is turned off.

I removed every fuse, one at a time, and checked for current, no change. I did notice that the 30 amp breaker for the "batt" was very hot but even with it removed there was still current being drawn.

I took the cover off the under hood block and found there was current being drawn (with the tester) between the disconnected battery and the 5 studs in the junction box.

Obviously a short somewhere, but I can't find any worn (or warm) wires anywhere.

Can someone shed some light on what'* going on and where to start looking?

I'm having no luck at all on the chev truck forum. As per usual.

moved to the correct section.

Peter, you noticed he said in his pickup, right?

How much current was being drawn when the meter was connected?

Moved to the correct correct section.

When I first read it, I thought I was in the YOUR RIDE section, not the Other ride section, So I assumed it was the nonne he was reffuring to. :?

I'm not sure, 12 volts for sure but my multimeter only has a 10ma and 250ma setting, it was enough to blow the fuse on the 250ma setting.

When disconnecting the terminal connector from the battery I can hear it sparking. Not loud, but audible. It will light up a test light quite well when placed between the battery post and the connector.


Glad to see that even mods sometimes get confused about where things go in here.

You really need a meter with a 10 amp or higher range. Our 89 Bonneville would read just over 1 amp when first connected. It would chime then after a few seconds go into power saving mode & drop to less than .05 amps. If the amps don't drop when all the fuses are pulled then you may have a problem with the starter or alternator.

I pulled all the wires off the alternater without any difference.

Off the jack up the truck and play with the starter right now.


*edit* Took the starter off, crap what a bitch that was. traced all the wires back without finding any bare ones. Still drawing juice.

I can't think of anything I'v done that could have caused this. I replaced the cluster in the dash, but that was 3 weeks ago otherwise I've just driven it around burning gas.

I'm beginning to think that the first store may have been right after all. I found an old aftermarket Ammeter from a car I used to have. It'* only got marks for 15 and 30 ams so it'* not all that accurate but I connected it up and turned on a few things to test it.

headlights on -- 15 amp draw

drivers door open key in ignition but "off" - moves 1 needle width

under hood light on only - moves 1/2 needle width.

everything turned off - it wiggles barely enough to see.

So whatever the draw is, it'* less than one small light bulb and that shouldn't kill the battery overnight unless there is something wrong with the battery.

I'm going back to the first store with my warranty card and get a new battery before doing any more crawling around under that hood.