ok bought 2 7's bout a month or so ago...had one going for the day to see what was wrong. Found out lots...but right now.. all i care about is getting the battery to stop dying...i went out bought a brand new one threw it in the car...and not even 24 hours later the battery is DEAD, so i dont know where to start...thers a security alarm installed, aftermarket stereo, and amp, and fog lights....

I DONT KNOW WHERE TO START...and honestley i felt like crying......... so can any one tell where to start...i just want to get out and drive......

 

well try unpluging all the extra stuff like the soundsystem and alarm,ect. i installed a alpine sound system to my car and that was my problem why my battery was going dead. it was a short. try that and if it still happens unplug your batery when you turn it off till u find the problem. if it still is draining the batery see if your alternator is working properly.

 

DOH....yeah....... i just realized....DUH.. i didnt have the steroe in or the amp.....so it could be either the.......alram.....or wait THE FUEL PUMP....something is wrong with that...it wont shut off with the ignition... i dont know why, so i have to take the fuse out for it to shut off.....but that was out.....all right.. so the fog lights or the alarm.......yeah... :S.....(sorry thinkking out loud)

 

Disconnect your negative battery cable, and using the multimeter to connect the cable to the battery read the voltage going through it with the key off. It should read something if there is a draw with the key off (which it sounds like there is). Start pulling your fuses one by one (IE - Pull one, observe, replace) until the draw goes away and the meter reads zero. The fuse in your hand that caused it to go away is the circuit that the short or draw is on. That will at least tell you what circuit it is on so you can examine that specific circuit.

~T.J.

 

RotorMotorDriver's idea is a good one, but you'll actually be measuring the current flow, not the voltage. With everything connected, there should be very little current flowing, although there will be some due to things like clocks. In your case, I suspect you'll see significant current flowing. As you disconnect circuits, you should see the current flow drop. I'd try one circuit at a time...if that one doesn't look like the one causing the problem, reconnect it and try the next one. I've attached a drawing of how to connect the multimeter.

Good luck!
Rich

 

and of course this all has to be done with a charged batt???

Thanks for the replies

 

all rgiht so i went out there this morning right after i woke up...and had a closer look...found another switch!!! for a total of three now, and i only know what one does...

But anyways, i measured the amps like 64mgb told me too....and all i was getting was 0.83 amps. on a ten amp scale, i pulled every single fuse, and none of them made a difference, and yes i pulled the ones that werent even in the fuse box, (the owner be4 me messed it UP!!) but neways can some one tell me what the amperage on there car looks likes.

 

Sounds like a short to me. If it is pulling ~1 amp all the time I would definately unhook the alarm and yank it out. If the wires look like they were all cobbled together for the alarm I would start tracing them and see where they go. MOST pro install shops cover the alarm wires so you cant see them. Usually, they tape them up but others will use the loom stuff. Makes it more hidden and gives it a stock appearance.

If any of those switches are hooked to the fuse box I would also see where they go and get that stuff figured out first. I hope you get it figured out. I know how frustrating electrical problems can get. I think everyone has one that they are working on it seems.

 

Lol OH MAN... it sux!!! but yeah, im going to rip the alarm out and all the other wiring, and then install it my self again, i know it sounds stupid, but i much rather KNOW whats in there and how its wired then not knowing.... i think that it makes sense.

and about the fuel pump constantly being on ? whats up with that :S:S

 

Sounds to me that one of those switches is controlling the fuel pump. I am thinking that the 79-83 cars had it set where the pump would turn on when the key is on and the 84-85 cars, the pump would turn on by a relay that would turn it on when the engine was turning over. If youhave a later car then maybe the relay went bad and they just hooked up a switch to it. Also possibly they had a fuel pump switch hooked up to unflood it. They do seem to flood fairly consistently. Well, at least mine does.

 

hmm....well that could be some thing......hmm.... i just dont know..i guess i should get a charged batt...and start playing..and hopefully not fry mah self.. lol

but how would u use this switch to unflood it...cause i think mah engine is flooded too.. :S

 

If you turn the engine over with the fuel pump off it will eventually "dry itself out". Basically it will pump the gas that is in there out into the exhaust. This WILL make it smoke alot when it does start. Also the best way I have found is to let itself run out of gas when it starts. it will start with the fuel pump off once the plugs get dry enough to spark. Let it run until it dies and then turn the pump back on and start again.

 

yeah but wont that kill the starter??? cause thats what i was afraid of yesterday.

 

You can always do it the other way, which it to remove the spark plugs and turn the engine backwards by hand. Both ways work but taking out the plugs takes considerably more time though it doesnt wear out the starter as much. I have also found that you can hold the pedal wide open with fuel pump off and it lets more air in and will unflood faster.

 

When it comes to start it in a flooded situation, just use Gumout Carb Cleaner (Nothing else, and I'm not joking...) to saturate the air cleaner filter, shoot some down the carb's primaries while you have them cranked open by hand and then sit for about 30 seconds...crank the engine and get ready for the smoke...

 

well thanks for all that now i have to try it on mah day off

 

ok....about the fuel pump....is there any fuel pump relays...or what do u guys think woud do that... i mean i plug the fuse in ang it goes....wether the car is on or off..

 

ummmm alternator?.... or has the car even been running when you have been doing these excercises?... it could just be that ur alternator is thrashed and not feeding ur battery... and thats why its going dead... but there is probably also some other issues you have to go with it. I suggest you test the output of your alternator just to cancel out that idea, just in case