When I leave both cables on the battery whithin a week the battery will discharge and it turns over about 5 seconds before it goes dead. I leave one cable off and it is fine and there is no spark when I touch the cable to the battery.

Timmy:

The current draw isn't enough to see a spark.  Disconnect one battery cable and put a volt meter between the cable and the battery post.  If you read full battery voltage, there is enough draw to run the battery down.  Start unhooking things until the voltage reading goes away.  Some places to look are trunk light, voltage regulator, clock, aftermarket radio, brake light switch, dome light.  If you have converted to an alternator, that is another possibility.

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

Timmy:

I just read your post about a horn ring problem.  Have you unplugged the horns so they won't blow all the time?  If so, the horn relay is running down your battery.

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

Tim

My 58 did the same thing.  I am hooked up to an alternator though.  I just bought one of the battery disconnect thingies.  Very technical name.  They cost less than $10.  We can only drive our cars about 7 months of the year up here so most of us put these disconnects on and just turn the green knob and away you go.  Good little theft deterrent too.

Gordie T

Gordie T           Long Point, Ontario

Voltage regulator.

Best regards,



Paul Menten

Meridian, Idaho

The horn ring had a problem allowing the horn to blow but I cleaned a little of the tar off the part where the horn button fits in to on the steering wheel and it seems to work better. The voltage regulator is brand new so i will try measuring draw with a volt meter

Absolutely get the "little green battery disconnect!"  There are so many little paths for current to leak in these old cars that a battery can easliy be drained below starting capacity in a week.   If you're really concerned about finding the culprit, a better method for finding it is to set your multi-meter on "Miiliamps" and put it in series between your positive post and hot cable.  It's show you even the sightest trickle of current flowing from your battery. 

Best,

A.J.

South Jersey

SMSgt USAF Retired 
1955 Ford Ranch Wagon & a couple of old guitars...Life's Good!

It is drawing .3 of a volt and what is the name of those battery disconnect switch thanks.

Timmy,

  It's just a generic battery disconnect.  Here's a link from JEG'S:

http://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS/555/10320/10002/-1

Honestly you can find them at just about any auto parts store.  I got mine at Carlsile for $5.99 each.

A.J.

South Jersey

SMSgt USAF Retired 
1955 Ford Ranch Wagon & a couple of old guitars...Life's Good!

The disconnect works well, but I would try and find the problem. 

My dad had a model A where there was a drain in the battery.  Turned out to be a short in the pop-out ignition - coil burned up one night and caught fire.  Might be the one time you forget to turn it that you really find out what it is.  Luckily the car wasn't damaged too much. 

On the positive side, it was 50 degrees in chicago this weekend, so I took the cover off my car to start it up.  (unfortunately I don't have a garage, so it sits outside in the snow).  Low and behold I forgot to turn the disconnect before I covered it for the winter - Battery was fresh and started right up.  It's nice not worrying about having a dead battery.

John: Lake Forest, IL



'57 Fairlane 500 - Looking better every day.