Question: Battery Drain

[alden]

Hi, I recently purchased a 1968 Corvette Coupe with a 327/350 hp 4-speed. I was told that the car needed a new battery. I found that the battery would take a full charge and readily start the car. After sitting for about a week I found the battery completely dead. I pulled the battery and charged it. Upon connecting the negative cable, a very slight spark jumped to the terminal. I closed both doors and again a spark. I disconnected the leads to the alternator, again a spark. I tried the key, a spark when shut off. I pulled the fuses, again a spark. I disconnected the leads to the coil, again a spark. I did not go near the starter/solenoid. I have concluded that the battery is fine but there is definitely a current drain. I have no idea where the current is flowing. Any suggestions? Thank you.
Alden

 

[bill81vette]

you could have nothing more than a worn wire.
I suppose you could try and start pulling fuses one by one
to get an idea of where to look.
tedious I know...Good Luck

 

[JohnZ]

Make sure your storage compartment/glove box light is turning off when you close the lid; that's a common source of an ignition-off draw.

 

[MBaker]

Hi, I recently purchased a 1968 Corvette Coupe with a 327/350 hp 4-speed. I was told that the car needed a new battery. I found that the battery would take a full charge and readily start the car. After sitting for about a week I found the battery completely dead. I pulled the battery and charged it. Upon connecting the negative cable, a very slight spark jumped to the terminal. I closed both doors and again a spark. I disconnected the leads to the alternator, again a spark. I tried the key, a spark when shut off. I pulled the fuses, again a spark. I disconnected the leads to the coil, again a spark. I did not go near the starter/solenoid. I have concluded that the battery is fine but there is definitely a current drain. I have no idea where the current is flowing. Any suggestions? Thank you.
Alden

There is a feature in the 68 wiper system that can cause this if the wiper switch is toggled on/off with the car shut off. Try starting the car, turn the wipers on, turn them off, shut off the car. Then test to see if you still have the battery drain.

 

[6880 Mike]

...There is a feature in the 68 wiper system that can cause this if the wiper switch is toggled on/off with the car shut off...

That's news to me. What feature would it be?

 

[MBaker]

That's news to me. What feature would it be?

Feature, flaw, idiosyncrasy, defect take your pick. I'm being positive and calling this behavior a feature.

 

[JohnZ]

Feature, flaw, idiosyncrasy, defect take your pick. I'm being positive and calling this behavior a feature.

That's correct - it was a 1968 one-year-only idiosyncrasy; I forgot about it.