Los' Tricky Truck

[jbohall001]

Im begining to believe that the reason for my quickly draining battery and alternator not charging is because I have no gauges hooked up. Just unplugged them and they are on my shop counter. Does this sound possible to anyone?

[bluef250]

More than likely the alternator is bad. Take it to an auto parts store and have them test the alternator. Generally, they will do it for no cost.

Gauges just show the state or condition.

A open circuit will drain a battery when the truck is off.

Just what are the conditions that are leading to drained battery.

[jbohall001]

Well, this is the 3rd alternator I have put in this week. All new. Quadruple checked my connections, hooked them up all the way they where from the get go. And as far as the battery, its a new optima red top. Pre charged it properly and everything. The key is off, truck isnt running, and i can put my volt meter on the battery and watch it drop about a volt a minute. How do I check for open circuit?

[fordman]

witht he truck off and the door closed or the doem light bulbe pulled out. remove the negative cable from the battery. then hook the volt meter inbetween the negative battery post and negative cable. if you have a draw or leak of current the light will light up. showing current running.

to find out where the cureent is running at. yo upull out one fuse at a time until the light goes out.

once you find the fuse that kills the light then yo uwill have to trace that circut to find where the bad wiring is.

[jbohall001]

Ahhh, thank you sir. I will do that first thing tommorow