Batery draining while car is turned off

[michaelkcmo]

I've got a '72 dodge dart swinger with a /6 motor in it.My problem is, I've replaced the voltage regulator and the ignition control unit and if I leave even one of the battery cables hooked up with the car turned off after a few hours it cranks but won't turn over and after awhile longer like this the battery goes completely dead and won't do anything.Any ideas?I just got it legal to drive and would like to be able to drive it!

 

[nothingbutdarts]

if I leave even one of the battery cables hooked up with the car turned off after a few hours it cranks but won't turn over and after awhile longer like this the battery goes completely dead and won't do anything.

Are you fighting two problems? You say it cranks but won't turn over????? Do you mean the engine cranks over, but it will not start?

If you battery is draining that quick: you either have a very large electrical draw on the syst. or your battery is going bad. You didn't say how old the battery is. You could pull the battery and have it tested or drive the car in.
You could try the test light method for checking for a current draw, disconnect one battery cable, hook the test light in between the cable and post, if the test light lights you have a draw. Depending on how bright the light is gives you a slight idea of how big a draw. If it's dim, it's a small draw. If it's bright you have a big draw. Then you would pull all your fuses and see if it went away, if not, disconnect the alternator power wire.

 

[michaelkcmo]

thatnks for the advice I'll try it when I get home from work and let you know the outcome....the more I think about it it's seeming more and more to me like it might be a bad battery

 

[RustyRatRod]

Disconnect the negative battery cable. Connect a test light between the negative terminal and negative post as outlined above. Then, oe at a time, remove each fuse and put it back, watching to see if the light goes out. When you find the fuse that puts the light out when removed, that's the problem circuit. If no fuses make the light go out, start removing positive leads from things under the hood. Starter, alternator, voltage regulator. You should find it rather quickly.

 

[1BadDodge71]

leaking diodes in the alternator can do this also.Leaky diodes will draw current from the battery when the engine is stopped.Get your battery and alternator checked.rofilel:

 

[magnumdart]

If the battery is going dead with only one cable hooked up (doesn't matter which), the battery is no good.

 

[Gryzynx]

First place to look is any add ons. Let me guess. Big sound system?