WetWilly
12-11-2001, 09:18 PM
Hi, I was reading on an archived post you responed to and maybe you can help me. It was about a constant draw on a starting battery and you said it was possible that the regulator(alternater) could have been burned out to cause this. Anyways I think I may have the same problem -- my main battery drains down and my tach doesn't work, any ideas. Thanks, Ryan
One of oldest tricks in the book is to rig a test light between the battery negative cable and the battery post, it should light if there is current flowing. Then remove all the fuses one at a time until the light goes out. If it dosen't go out try removing the feed wires from the ignition switch or any other circuit which is NOT controlled by the ignition switch (ie. livewell that works with the key off, VHF radio wired direct, fish finders, GPS etc.) When the light bulb goes off, you have found your circuit with the short in it. It goes without saying to remove the wires from any other appliance that is wired directly to the battery like the alternator output wire (to see if the internal alternator components are shorted). Generally there is no draw at the starter motor because it is only energized when the key is turned to start. Good luck and good fishing, hope this helps!
eek