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Don
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: GA
Posts: 4


http://www.chevelles.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif Alternator problem on 1970 Chevelle
I have a 1970 Chevelle that has always drained the battery. The alternator has 3 wires, one large red wire going to one post; one blue wire going to one slip-on, and one yellow wire going to slip-on.

Blue wire has power on at all times.

Some additional facts: After cranking the car, you can take the battery terminal loose and the car will continue to run. Removing the BLUE wire and removing the battery terminal, the car goes dead.

The car has a voltage regulator. Removing the wire from the voltage regulator and removing the battery terminal causes the car to go dead.

Leaving wires ON the voltage regulator and the battery terminal off, the car continues to run.

Do you have an idea of where the shortage may be?

How can we trace a power draw like this?

I would appreciate any input. I am at a loss what is wrong and how to fix it. THANKS!! Don
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I have a 1970 Chevelle that has always drained the battery. The alternator has 3 wires, one large red wire going to one post; one blue wire going to one slip-on, and one yellow wire going to slip-on.

Blue wire has power on at all times.

Some additional facts: After cranking the car, you can take the battery terminal loose and the car will continue to run. Removing the BLUE wire and removing the battery terminal, the car goes dead.

The car has a voltage regulator. Removing the wire from the voltage regulator and removing the battery terminal causes the car to go dead.

Leaving wires ON the voltage regulator and the battery terminal off, the car continues to run.

First, NEVER pull the battery cable while the engine is running, it can blow the diodes in the alternator, which when diodes start leaking (electricity) it will kill the battery when the car is not running. (may have already happened, you will know after you test)

Do you have an idea of where the shortage may be?

How can we trace a power draw like this?

I would appreciate any input. I am at a loss what is wrong and how to fix it. THANKS!! Don

Do the drain light test....

To test for the drain, disconnect any clocks and radio with memory, with the car off and everything turned off, (key is out and doors closed) disconnect positive battery cable and connect a test light inline between the cable and the battery (do not let the cable touch ground), with a drain the light will be lit. You need to make the light go out to find the drain. Disconnect things one at a time till the light goes out. First disconnect the alternator and voltage regulator plug, then fuses at the fuse box.