Wiring Problem - Suggestions Appreciated

[Chevyman for life]

The wiring on the '59 is done (I thought). Have been checking out the system and found a few minor problems which I corrected today. Car runs good and all functions seem to work normally.

However, with the battery disconnected I measured resistance across the two battery cables. To my surprise there was about 1K Ohms of resistance. I know that isn't much but equates to .012 amps current or .144 Watts being dissapated somewhere.

I've tried the obvious, disconnected clock and radio, disconnected alternator (converted from generator), checked all switches being off, doors closed. In reality there shouldn't be anything drawing that miniscule amount.

Any suggestions where leakage can be coming from before I start digging deeper under the dash and disconnecting a lot of stuff? Is this common on older systems just from corrosion in some switch? Have a new ignition switch.

Thanks,
Gerry

 

[michael broyhill]

I had the same problem with my 60, it was draining my battery when switch was off,I don't have all the tech details but I remember there were 2 red wires on back of switch that were reversed I think everything worked which made me believe it was hooked up right but it ended up thats were the problem was hope this helps ,Mike

 

[Chevyman for life]

Thanks Mike,

It wasn't a switch in my case. After the few areas I mentioned earlier I decided it was time to pull fuses one at a time and go from there.

Well, it wasn't as simple as pulling fuses. I spent a full day looking at and disconnecting switches, devices, measuring resistance, putting back together and on to the next. Crossed off a big list of all areas I could think of. Almost nothing left. Decided to look at resistance of ammeter terminals to ground with nothing else hooked to it. Guess what, the leakage is from the ammeter to ground.

Probably the worst problem to fix as taking out the dash on a project I am just finishing is not what I feel like doing. Just not a lot of room to take out all the wires and worse, put them back in. I'll try taking each terminal nut off and seeing if changing the insulator works and if so I don't have to take the dash out.

While the leakage is not high, it's a possible diaster waiting to happen. This is how it looks this morning. Monday it probably all comes apart.

Gerry

 

[firstgear]

Thanks Mike,

It wasn't a switch in my case. After the few areas I mentioned earlier I decided it was time to pull fuses one at a time and go from there.

Well, it wasn't as simple as pulling fuses. I spent a full day looking at and disconnecting switches, devices, measuring resistance, putting back together and on to the next. Crossed off a big list of all areas I could think of. Almost nothing left. Decided to look at resistance of ammeter terminals to ground with nothing else hooked to it. Guess what, the leakage is from the ammeter to ground.

Probably the worst problem to fix as taking out the dash on a project I am just finishing is not what I feel like doing. Just not a lot of room to take out all the wires and worse, put them back in. I'll try taking each terminal nut off and seeing if changing the insulator works and if so I don't have to take the dash out.

While the leakage is not high, it's a possible diaster waiting to happen. This is how it looks this morning. Monday it probably all comes apart.

Gerry

yuck!

 

[Chevyman for life]

Problem resolved

Earlier I had written how I finally discovered the slight drain of electrical power as being the ammeter itself was leaking current to ground.

Well, I didn't have to pull the whole cluster after all. By removing the oil line and many wires and other obstructions I was able to pull out the ammeter/oil gauge subcluster.

Examining the ammeter I discovered that the rubber insulators between the inwards and the case had some resistance (thus they carry current). Talking with the owner, he said that he had replaced the ammeter with a 60 amp one 35 years ago and he had used SINK FAUCET GASKETS for insulators. He never knew that it was draining the battery as he used the car every day in his lawn service (mower and tools sticking out of the trunk). He took the car apart a year later and it stayed that way until I started restoring it 4 years ago.

Anyway the problem is resolved. The picture below shows all the wires I had to pull. Took 10 hours to find the problem and 5 hours to remove, fix and replace the meter. Restoration really close to completion.

Gerry