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72pinky Samba Member
Joined: March 10, 2022 Posts: 13 Location: Miami fl
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Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2022 10:47 am Post subject: Battery draining |
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Hey guys I’m new to this so quick question. My 72 beetle battery was dead and I got a new one had it only for 3 weeks and it’s completely dead again. What could be the problem? Any suggestions would be appreciated:)[/s] |
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VW_Jimbo Samba Member
Joined: May 22, 2016 Posts: 9966 Location: Huntington Beach, CA
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Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2022 10:53 am Post subject: Re: Battery draining |
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Parasite drain.
Get an amp meter connected in series to the battery, then start pulling fuses. Or even a simple buzzer. They sell a “short circuit” buzzer kit.
Here you go. I have used one of these for 35 years!
https://www.amazon.com/Tool-Aid-25300-Circuit-Dete...mp;sr=8-19
If you have an Alternator, it may be worth disconnecting it over night to see if that is the issue. One of those Diodes could be defective. _________________ Jimbo
There is never enough time to do it right the first time, but all the time necessary the second time!
TDCTDI wrote: |
Basically, a whole bunch of fuckery to achieve a look. |
67rustavenger wrote: |
GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo! |
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ashman40 Samba Member
Joined: February 16, 2007 Posts: 15985 Location: North Florida, USA
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Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2022 1:45 pm Post subject: Re: Battery draining |
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Generator or alternator?
Fully recharge your battery and then confirm the at rest voltage reading at the battery. It should be at least 12.6v for a fully charged battery.
Start the engine, rev to 2100rpm and take a voltage reading at the battery terminals. A working charging system should read 13.8v+ at the battery.
Take the readings and report back what you find. _________________ AshMan40
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'67 Beetle #1 {project car that never made it to the road }
'75 Beetle 1200LS (RHD Japan model) {junked due to frame rot}
'67 Beetle #2 {2019 project car - Wish me luck!} |
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runamoc Samba Member
Joined: June 19, 2006 Posts: 5601 Location: 37.5N 77.1W
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Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2022 1:51 pm Post subject: Re: Battery draining |
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could be a loose fan belt _________________ Daily driver: '69 Baja owned 44 yrs - Plan B: '81 Rabbit Diesel LS Deluxe - Plan C: '72 Ghia
Yard Art: 2 Sandrails
Outback: '69 Ghia - '68,'69,'70,'72 Beetle - '84 Scirocco, GTI - Pair of '02 Golfs-
VW Wiring = It's just wires |
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vwoldbug Samba Member
Joined: January 28, 2009 Posts: 1214 Location: Ohio
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Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2022 2:49 pm Post subject: Re: Battery draining |
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Did this just start and what kind of radio is installed. |
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vwoldbug Samba Member
Joined: January 28, 2009 Posts: 1214 Location: Ohio
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Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2022 2:50 pm Post subject: Re: Battery draining |
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Did this just start and what kind of radio is installed. |
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Tom K. Samba Member
Joined: March 10, 2005 Posts: 1605 Location: Central Pennsylvania
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Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2022 3:26 pm Post subject: Re: Battery draining |
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Have you been driving the car the past 3 weeks? Or has it been sitting? If you've been driving it, then I would check the charging system (generator/alternator, voltage regulator (if generator), and wire contacts. If it has been sitting for the past three weeks, then something is draining your battery. That happened to me one time. It was my radio that was left on _________________ '91 Vanagon Westfalia
'70 Beetle Convertible
'71 Super Beetle Semi-Automatic: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=714131&highlight=
'65 Ghia: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=762478&highlight= |
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Cusser Samba Member
Joined: October 02, 2006 Posts: 31379 Location: Hot Arizona
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FlyAU98 Samba Member
Joined: September 12, 2020 Posts: 67 Location: Milton, FL
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Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2022 7:21 am Post subject: Re: Battery draining |
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My odd battery drain turned out to be a faulty brake light switch (in the master cylinder). It didn't become apparent until I switched to LED brake light bulbs and one of them would always faintly glow... _________________ ======================
1972 Super Beetle |
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Jimbug57 Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2002 Posts: 817 Location: Mid Michigan
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Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2022 9:02 am Post subject: Re: Battery draining |
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I have a method I use to track down parasitic drain. First disconnect the radio if it has an always on power connection. Then I remove all the fuses and tap the ground strap from the battery on top of the negative post on the battery - with the ignition off. There should be no sparks. Add 1 fuse at a time and check for sparks by tapping the ground again. Add fuses and tap until you find the circuit that sparks - that's where the short is.
And remember sparks near a battery is dangerous so proceed at your own risk. _________________ Repeat after me "I am smarter than metal!" |
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runamoc Samba Member
Joined: June 19, 2006 Posts: 5601 Location: 37.5N 77.1W
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Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2022 10:11 am Post subject: Re: Battery draining |
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Jimbug57 wrote: |
I have a method I use to track down parasitic drain. First disconnect the radio if it has an always on power connection. Then I remove all the fuses and tap the ground strap from the battery on top of the negative post on the battery - with the ignition off. There should be no sparks. Add 1 fuse at a time and check for sparks by tapping the ground again. Add fuses and tap until you find the circuit that sparks - that's where the short is.
And remember sparks near a battery is dangerous so proceed at your own risk. |
I can't think of anything to say that would be nice about this advice _________________ Daily driver: '69 Baja owned 44 yrs - Plan B: '81 Rabbit Diesel LS Deluxe - Plan C: '72 Ghia
Yard Art: 2 Sandrails
Outback: '69 Ghia - '68,'69,'70,'72 Beetle - '84 Scirocco, GTI - Pair of '02 Golfs-
VW Wiring = It's just wires |
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VW_Jimbo Samba Member
Joined: May 22, 2016 Posts: 9966 Location: Huntington Beach, CA
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Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2022 8:36 am Post subject: Re: Battery draining |
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runamoc wrote: |
Jimbug57 wrote: |
I have a method I use to track down parasitic drain. First disconnect the radio if it has an always on power connection. Then I remove all the fuses and tap the ground strap from the battery on top of the negative post on the battery - with the ignition off. There should be no sparks. Add 1 fuse at a time and check for sparks by tapping the ground again. Add fuses and tap until you find the circuit that sparks - that's where the short is.
And remember sparks near a battery is dangerous so proceed at your own risk. |
I can't think of anything to say that would be nice about this advice |
I can. Except the “sparks”. Voltage spikes are a serious event that can wipe out solid state devices in a split second! Stop tapping that cable end and get a light bulb in series! It will glow if current flows! _________________ Jimbo
There is never enough time to do it right the first time, but all the time necessary the second time!
TDCTDI wrote: |
Basically, a whole bunch of fuckery to achieve a look. |
67rustavenger wrote: |
GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo! |
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