The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay 51 Chev electrical leak

I have a weird electrical leak on my '51 pickup. There is a current flow of 300 milliamps at all times when the truck is shut down. I have checked the regulator, horn, dome light, dash lights and can't seem to find it. The wiring for this truck is so simple that I am kind of buffaloed.

Any ideas??

Yes, The wiring is very simple, unhooking loads one at a time should pin point your problem. That being said, what modifications have been made to your truck? Is it the original 6 volt or been converted to 12. Have you added the passenger brake light, and or turn signals? Tell us please, what has been changed and we can come up with more ideas to help you trouble shoot the problem.

That is what I have been doing with no luck so far. The truck is bone stock. I am starting to think that it could be the ammeter. I plan to get up and under the dash next week and try that.

sounds like an alt. draw, if you have one.

Do you have a radio with a standby power wire?

Does the gas gauge go to empty when you shut off the key?

Something is still "On" when the key is off. An aftermarket radio will draw some current for memory. A bad voltage regulator can as well. But take off 1 thing at a time until it stops. The last thing off is the problem. It wont be the ammeter, unless there is a short some where.

It turned out to be pretty simple once I managed to get my carcass wedged between the clutch and seat frame.

I had accidentally moved the tank sending wire to the ammeter post next to it. As a result I had a 2 watt leak. since the tank was almost full I did not question the fuel gauge, which rests at zero and goes to full tank when powered up. As the float falls resistance in the unit decreases, allowing more current to flow, and pulling the needle downward.

If it aint one thing it's another!