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#1375019 08/27/2020 5:44 PM
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 68
M
'Bolter
'Bolter
M Offline
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 68
So I have a problem with my 1950 3100, the battery will be dead if I let it set up for even a week. The battery should last longer than that without running. I have a few things that are always hot even when the key is off such as the blinkers. However, I am under the assumption if the blinkers are not turned on it is not using battery life. If that is not the problem is there a way to tell what is draining my battery? Or could the problem be this is not a good battery. I have replaced the NAPA battery several times, but it is always the same model battery.


Mike
Mike Bell #1375024 08/27/2020 6:47 PM
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 29,269
Bubba - Curmudgeon
Bubba - Curmudgeon
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 29,269
6v system?

What part number NAPA battery?

Mike Bell #1375039 08/27/2020 9:09 PM
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 678
M
'Bolter
'Bolter
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Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 678
Try disconnecting the battery ground for a week. If the battery is dead then you have a bad battery. If it's not dead then you have a current drain and will have to put a multimeter on each circuit to find out which one is drawing power.


1951 Chevy Panel Truck
Mike Bell #1375042 08/27/2020 9:45 PM
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 189
4
'Bolter
'Bolter
4 Offline
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 189
Quick way to see a battery drain is by disconnecting the neg. cable, and connect a test light to the battery post and the cable. If it lights you have a current flow draining the battery, and If the light is out it there is no current flow draining the battery.

Last edited by 4100 Fire Truck; 08/27/2020 9:46 PM.
Mike Bell #1375043 08/27/2020 10:01 PM
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 8,983
B
Sir Searchalot
Sir Searchalot
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 8,983
Agree with 4100 fire truck but the drain can be milliamps. Best way to detect parasitic drain is install millamp reading meter between disconnected neg cable and neg post.
Do you have ANY modern components? Radio, blu tooth, security alarm, CD player ........
No: the turn signal will not drain unless malfunction of them or any other item.

You need to check voltage across battery posts when parked and check again after one week. Truck not running for either check. Report voltage readings.

Doesn't NAPA test the battery before replacing?


Right is right, even if everyone is against it, and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it. - William Penn
Mike Bell #1375049 08/27/2020 10:55 PM
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,299
G
'Bolter
'Bolter
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,299
Borrowing from another thread, are you sure the brake light switch isn't sticking? If truck is outside and you don't walk behind it, you may not notice the brake lights. Other than that, as mentioned, set up with meter to check current draw and start disconnecting suspect items
one at a time until draw quits. All that being said, I have a vehicle right now with a NAPA battery that is a year old I suspect is going bad. I will get around to taking it back to NAPA to check the day after it strands me...

Greg_H #1375074 08/28/2020 2:08 AM
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 296
G
'Bolter
'Bolter
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Great suggestion. I had that happen a couple of times, couldn't figure it out. A new brake pedal spring fixed that issue.

I dont know what kind of battery I have in my truck currently, but it has been in there since 2016, and before that, went 50k miles in a Toyota Corolla. I drive my truck once or twice a week now, and it doesn't need a charge unless it sits for a month or so.


-Patrick
1953 Chevrolet 3100
261 / 4-speed / 4:11 / Commercial Red

Mike Bell #1375278 08/29/2020 7:50 PM
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,439
Moderator - The Electrical Bay
Moderator - The Electrical Bay
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,439
I have had good and bad luck with batteries, both quality and the el cheapo's. The "One year" Autozone battery in one of my trucks was about 8-9 years old before it began to fail. It would fire the engine up even after sitting in the cold all winter, until it wouldn't. I have found that most of my batteries will be dependable up to 4 or 5 years as long as they are kept charged. I also keep a fairly new battery in my wife's car and recycle it to one of my daily's, then recycle it to a vic that sits alot (then I put a battery maintainer on it).


Another quality post.
Real Trucks Rattle
HELP! The Paranoids are after me!

Moderated by  Jon G, Rusty Rod 

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