howdy, i just got a 69 coronet with a 383 and the 727 from my best friends uncle.. it runs cherry and has a really nice body that primered rite now. the only problem with it is we think it has an electrical short. we put a new battery in it and unless we disconnect the battery cables, the battery is shot by the end of the nite. i am not sure how to go about isolating what needs to be done to the elecrtricals, but any advice would be really appreciated. thanks for your knowledge.

 

Hi 69coronet383,

It could be many things. I figure you have already made sure that no lights are on...dome, glove box, etc... How old is the battery? Have you checked the specific gravity of the electrolyte in the battery (even sealed or "Maintenance Free" batteries have covers that can be removed). NOTE: BE very careful when working around battery acid. You can use common baking soda to neutralize the acid if you get it on anything...however, be careful not to get it into the cells of the battery. Or you could use a known GOOD battery.

I would start by charging the battery up and then disconnect the voltage regulator and let it sit overnight and see if you still have an issue in the morning. The next thing I would try would be the alternator itself...if the voltage regulator does not prove to be at fault. Plug the voltage reg. back in and disconnect the alternator. You could also have an issue with the solenoid for the starter but, the V.R., alternator and battery are easier to get at to start with.

Hope that helps.

 

thanks for the ideas...the battery is brand new, we plugged it in, started the car enough to drive it home, than disconected the batt. again...but we will give the rundown the rest of them this week. thanks agian.

 

Let me know how you make out with it. Sometimes a diode can go bad and drain the system. I have seen it with alternators that were bad and since this has an external regulator...it could be in the regulator. With a drain like that, again...I would just unplug and let the car sit. If no drain, then you can test further. If you still have a drain on the system, then move onto something else.

Hope that helps.

 

Disconnect one of the battery terminals.Place a testlight between it and the battery post.If the light lights you are pulling juice somewhere.Start pulling the fuses 1 by 1 if the light goes out that is the circut thats drawing a short.

 

i would check the starter. i've had a problem with a 70 bee years ago. the battery would go dead for no reason at all. changed the usual parts and still the same thing. finally changed the starter and it was cured.