Dead Battery...wiring diagram

hey guys...

well the battery in my daily driven 3rd gen novee is discharging while I sleep... sucks, but I believe I have tracked it down to my rear passenger tail light. When my lights are on it dimms out when I apply the brakes.

Does anyone have a wiring diagram for the rear lights on a 1972 so I can be sure its right when I work on it?

Thanks.
J.D.

I have used these a few times. They are from The Flyers album so if you need them again just go to his albums in his signature area. Hope they help you out.
http://rides.webshots.com/album/555104780qhTHfK

Thanks, these should work fine....

i owe you :beer:

Check for a bad ground in the truck area. I had the same problems with my taillights.
Greg

I dont see how your tail lights or anything back there could drain a battery while its off over night. 95% of most electrical problems is a dirty or loose connection.
When your lights are off, all power either has to go through the headlight switch, brake light switch or hazards first. Make sure your body grounds are still there, usually the back of the head has a ground strap from the head to the body, also I had to add one to my radiator support to the frame once when I has glass fenders.
Even though none of this should effect your battery draining over night, is your battery good? Got another vehicle to swap t with and see if the same thing happens?

hook a test light up in series with your pos cable and see if it glows with the key off. if so you got yourself a short.

hook a test light up in series with your pos cable and see if it glows with the key off. if so you got yourself a short.

I dont understand what you mean by "hook a test light up in series with your pos cable" can you explain it alittle more?

Thanks
Mike

I prefer to do it on the negative side. Remove the cable from the battery and hook a light bulb between the post and the disconnected cable. If it glows there is an amp draw. Pull fuses until the light goes out. That will be the circuit with the load drawing your battery down. if there is no draw the bulb will not light.

Remove the dome light bulb before you start.

I made a tester for this using a dome bulb with wires soldered to the contact and ground with aligator clips.

It could be a bad battery if it only happens overnight.

I was talking about the tail lights going dim. As far as a draw in the electrical system you can hook up a meter and start pulling fuses until you find out where the draw is.If it is Draining the battery overnight there is a good draw in the system.
Greg

I prefer to do it on the negative side. Remove the cable from the battery and hook a light bulb between the post and the disconnected cable. If it glows there is an amp draw. Pull fuses until the light goes out. That will be the circuit with the load drawing your battery down. if there is no draw the bulb will not light.

Remove the dome light bulb before you start.

I made a tester for this using a dome bulb with wires soldered to the contact and ground with aligator clips.

It could be a bad battery if it only happens overnight.

I did not know this trick thanks for explaining!

To drain out overnight I think Philip may have put his finger on it...bad battery. You can have it checked at most auto parts stores. Much easier than pulling fuses.

Dave

New Battery...

found bad cigarette lighter.. it was engaged and melted

being that a lighter is a resistive load, it draws a lot of power.

thanks for the posts guys.