7963bill

My '94 will have a dead battery in just a few days after a full charge. Battery is new. I pulled the two headlight motor blade fuses and checked the voltage at the fuse block where the fuses plug in. I got 12.5 volts from both contacts on one side of the fuse block. On the other side, I got zero voltage on the right headlight motor and 5.0 volts on the left headlight motor. Is this 5 volt reading an indicator that something is causing my battery drain?

Dr. Evil

It could be but voltage can go both ways so something else could be feeding it. You're on the right track though. I use a fluke meter with an amp draw measurement. I check the draw across every fuse to isolate the problem. Just have to make sure you have the accesory powered off. I'd check the usual stuff light making sure the underhood light goes off, console lid lights go off etc.

vetteoz

And if you don't find anything there you have to pull the power feeds off the terminal behind the battery
and meter the wires individually.
Many systems have the power direct from the battery ( through fusible links ) that don't go through the fuse box

rrt898

Fusible links are almost always the problem....

7963bill

Thanks for your input. I'll be working on it.

TA

Some of mine were corroded to the point they fell apart when you touched them.

Greg Gore

Key left in the ignition draws around 300ma I think. Key out 50, if memory serves.

NuckinFutz93

Check you vanity mirror lights. My wife killed the battery in my old 95 by leaving them on.

Cliff Harris

Some sneaky current draws I've heard about are:

Problem with the power antenna. It doesn't shut off after lowering and continues to draw power.

Power seat (especially if you have the memory option that moves the seat all the way back when you shut off the ignition).

Interior lights don't turn off for some reason. Usually you walk away from the car and don't realize that the interior lights aren't shutting off because you expect the shutoff delay (and then it doesn't happen).

7963bill

Thanks for the ideas. Going to check the radio antenna closely. It does not retract all the way.

JustDennis

The battery drain on my 86 was caused by the right headlight actuator motor. The motor was going bad. With everything off, I listened under the hood and could hear it clicking every 30 seconds or so. I unplugged it and no more battery drain. I replaced the headlight motor this weekend and all is well.

BGZQ8

I have not heard this before about a C4 and I always leave the key in it. Can anyone elaborate more about this ?

bac22

I'm assuming he meant when it's running...otherwise 3A is a hell of a lot of power when the key is in it not running! Normally the vette draws 30-50mA just sitting...anything above that means there is a problem somewhere.

Biker

Yep! I once had one go bad in a parking lot, leaving me stranded.