model a voltage draw

A

a guy

Member
Need help. My 1928 has a voltage draw. Battery goes dead without car usage. How do I find the source. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks Jim.
 
hi Jim,
disconnect either battery cable from the fully charged battery and take a 2.00 basic test light, put either end on the battery post that the cable was removed from and the other end to the battery cable. if you have a draw it should light. when the draw is repaired the light will go out...
common causes are brake lights stuck on or a bad cut out on the generator. if its not a brake lamp issue try removing the wires from the cut out and see if that turns off the test light...
 
Thanks for reply. Brake light not sticking. Cut out was tested by local model a shop and is O.K. What now?
 
a guy said:
Thanks for reply. Brake light not sticking. Cut out was tested by local model a shop and is O.K. What now?
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do what i said to confirm the draw.. make sure the battery is fully recharged. if you have a draw it will light if it does not light no draw then test the battery itself or cable connections at the post, at the frame and starter.
if you have a draw disconnect the wires at the cutout and see if the light goes out.. cut outs can int stick
 
if you show a draw and its not the cut out then trace it down to disconnecting other items till it goes out.. there are 2 wires on the cut out.. one feeds the lighs///horn the other connects it to the charging circuit// ignition see diagram..
the amp meter may also be registering negative from the draw
 

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Dirty cracked and wet wires laying against metal will also cause a current draw. Like others have said following a wiring diagram and disconnect one wire at a time. The light switch on the bottom of the steering column can also have issues as it tends to get dirty. A light will work as a test for current draw as long as the draw is large enough to light the bulb, a better option is a amp meter hooked in series like was described for the test light. Just do not turn on the lights, blow the horn, etc unless you have a amp meter that will take the current. Never try to run the starter with a small amp meter inline, you will damage the meter unless you have a high quality one like a fluke, then you will blow the fuse.
 
Sometimes a repro ignition switch terminal will touch the gas tank and make the coil draw current until the coil burns out or the battery goes dead. Remove the 4 screws on the instrument panel and see if the draw quits when you pull the panel away from the tank.
 
"Maybe" jist a bum battery?? Disconnect the ground cable, charge battery fully, & see if it is dead the next day. If so, buy a new battery. IF you are BROKE, call My Dog, he has $900.00 buried, SOMEWHERE??? Dial 1-800-BUSTER T---------
Bill W.
 
BILL WILLIAMSON said:
"Maybe" jist a bum battery?? Disconnect the ground cable, charge battery fully, & see if it is dead the next day. If so, buy a new battery. IF you are BROKE, call My Dog, he has $900.00 buried, SOMEWHERE??? Dial 1-800-BUSTER T---------
Bill W.
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i can tell when your feeling better..lol
 
Bill's baaaaack..!
I really doubt it is your problem as batteries have changed but in the olden days a 6 volt battery that had a dirty and moist top would self discharge. Never saw it on a 12 volt battery, but then again charging systems are far better at regulation, a Model A not so much, :).
I could be crazy, keep that in mind.
 
Jim,

Help, I thought I was losing it. Please help me. I could have sworn I posted an answer to your question. With a little research I found your other thread with the same question, http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=165644. Please don't post two threads with the same question, it makes me think I am losing my mind. (PS, see my comments on your other post)

Charlie Stephens
 
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Not a fan of diodes on generators..are using a cutout or diode ?? bad diode could cause a slow drain.
 
If you run 2 threads for the same problem you are going to get twice as many wrong answers.:D

It does make it confusing trying to keep track of what's going on.:confused:
 
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