1982 Pontiac Trans Am Battery Drain

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RECAROGUY
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Hi people. 1982 pontiac trans am, 305 cfi, 252???miles, little to no rust, car runs excellent with many new and rebuilt parts. This site was so helpful with my last problem--here I am again. The problem is...if car is parked and not driven, in 3-5 days the battery is completely dead. This does not happen in a day or 2--takes 3-5 days--I know, slow battery drain. I put in a new battery--didn't help--Battery and alternator test good (12 from battery while not running, 14-15 from battery while running.) I see no lights staying lit-up after car is turned off (interior lights and such.) I called 2 garages and 1 dealer, and none of them will even ATTEMPT to look for a problem like this--I was told labor costs would be extreeeemely high and more than likely the problem would not be found. I thought WOW, garages turning down work--WOW again! Would it help for me to fully charge the battery then take 1 fuse out at a time and let it sit for a week?--this process should ONLY take 8-10 months--lol!!! Anyone with any ideas how and what I should look for??? BURRBRIAN........WHERE AAAAARRRRE YOUUUUUUU :D :D :D Thanks guys.........recaroguy.
May 11, 2006 at 5:20 AM
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SYNCRAIT
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
  • 235 POSTS
well first off id look at your alternator belt....sometimes during idle the belt isnt slipping but when there is a load on the engine it tends to slip more often hense draining your battery.... also you can always get a testing light at the store and connect it to each of the fuses and wait for the light to turn on it will turn on if there is current going through it you could start disconnecting the + and hooking the testing light from the battery post and + cable while the car is off to see if there is actually a draining
May 11, 2006 at 8:18 AM
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BURRBRIAN
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
  • 158 POSTS
Ya, you picked a good one this time. Electrical and wiring are definitly not my strong points but I think I would check ignition leads and use process of elimanation on wires coming out of ignition and possibly in the starter soleniod area. If you don't find any thing screwy there go to fuse box and start going through fuses and see if anything bleeding through there. There could be alot of dead ends before you might get lucky and come across the problem area. I wish you good luck, patience, and suggest you employ anger management, as this could get very frustrating! :evil:
May 12, 2006 at 1:04 AM
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RECAROGUY
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Hi guys. Thanks for your responses. I know very little about electical/ wiring myself, so I started with the fuse box. Have been pulling 3 at a time to hopefully speed up this process, no luck yet. :x

Burrbrian--"patience, employ anger-management?"................You must know me :D ....those things have never been my strong points................ :P :P

Thanks again fellas--recaroguy.
May 16, 2006 at 2:40 PM
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Suggested Repair

With the car off, use a test light between the battery positive post and the disconnected positive cable to confirm a parasitic draw, then pull fuses one at a time to find the circuit that stops it. Also check the alternator belt for slip under load and inspect ignition wiring and the starter solenoid area for a constant drain.

Conversation Summary

A 1982 Pontiac Trans Am with a 305 CFI loses its battery charge after sitting 3-5 days, though the battery and alternator test good and no lights stay on. Experts recommend a parasitic-draw test with a test light, fuse-by-fuse isolation, an alternator belt check, and inspection of ignition wiring and the starter solenoid. The owner began pulling fuses but had not found the cause.

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