voltage leak? -solved-sort of..

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voltage leak? -solved-sort of..

Postby marco_1978_spyder » Sun Jun 30, 2013 12:05 pm

I hooked a voltage meter up between the positive battery cable and the positive battery terminal it connects too. It reads twelve volts with no key in the ignition. Is this a sign of a voltage leak?
Doesn't seem like anything is on. Over a few days connected and the battery will lose its charge. The factory clock isn't hooked up.
1978 Monza Spyder V8 4speed, posi
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1980 Sunbird Hatchback 4cyl, 4spd.
2006 Chevrolet Aveo 5 speed Hatchback
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Re: voltage leak?

Postby cjbiagi » Sun Jun 30, 2013 12:11 pm

If you are reading 12V then you have a complete circuit, so it's getting a ground through something. You could try pulling the fuses one by one to try and isolate which circuit.
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Re: voltage leak?

Postby marco_1978_spyder » Sun Jun 30, 2013 12:19 pm

OK I just read some advice on checking the negative cable for over .05 amps (edited from ohms to amps, oops) So I'll try that and see..
1978 Monza Spyder V8 4speed, posi
1978 Sunbird Formula V6, 5 Speed, Hatchback
1980 Sunbird Hatchback 4cyl, 4spd.
2006 Chevrolet Aveo 5 speed Hatchback
Yes, you can refer to me as Mark
Please visit my blog... http://chevymonza.blogspot.com/ Follow if you like!
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Re: voltage leak?

Postby chevyart » Sun Jun 30, 2013 1:25 pm

marco using negative cable is the way i just checked out my car carriers electrical system. art
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Re: voltage leak?

Postby marco_1978_spyder » Sun Jun 30, 2013 4:34 pm

Well,well,well... I think I found the leak. I set the meter up for 10a DC. And hooked it up in line on the positive cable. I got a reading of .15 so I started pulling fuses. I'd forgotten how fun it is messing with fuses, lol!

Got to the one marked dome/courtesy/ lighter and I could turn the draw on and off with it.
So bingo. Got out my trusty wiring diagram and started tracing circuits. Had quite a few options...I thought maybe it was simply the glove box lite staying on..but that checked out OK. I checked the headlight switch and it was OK. Lighter..OK .clock..disconnected.so no problems there.

Here the wiring diagram, saved the day. I traced the circuit as it split 5 ways to the final culprit..the headlight chime. As I examined it I noticed right away that it was hot!!!!.... so I disconnected it and poof. There goes the draw. And potentially the chance for a fire!
What the heck. I did like the buzzer. It was more of a chime. Helpful if you tend to forget the parking lights. So I might try to see if I have a better working buzzer in box somewhere. I'm sure I do.

This one was made by Phillips and has a grey wire that plugs into the fuse panel. I'll ad a pic in a bit..
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1978 Monza Spyder V8 4speed, posi
1978 Sunbird Formula V6, 5 Speed, Hatchback
1980 Sunbird Hatchback 4cyl, 4spd.
2006 Chevrolet Aveo 5 speed Hatchback
Yes, you can refer to me as Mark
Please visit my blog... http://chevymonza.blogspot.com/ Follow if you like!
Featuring special guests; Carl Beraytor and Ray D'atore

My Red spyder now has a youtube channel please Like and Subscribe!!!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOzzSR ... ISuing7KLA
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Re: voltage leak?

Postby spencerforhire » Sun Jun 30, 2013 4:44 pm

Either cable will show the same voltage, but it's almost meaningless. What you need to measure is amperage. Most meters will do this, but usually require that you move the positive lead to a different hole. What you read on the meter needs to be interpreted properly. You will want to see less than 20-30ma. The meter reading will usually be expressed as amps so you want to see .020.or less. Damn. I typed all this on my phone while Mario was fixing it.
The "fleet"-
72 Vega HB Drag Car -383/'Glide/9"(9.35@146.19)(5.94@117.28 1/8th)
77 Vega Estate wagon- project(someday)will have TPI305/T-5, S-10 spindles/axles
76 Vega GT- 400/4spd/9" retired from active duty(rusty)
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03 Silverado 2WD ex.cab (retired)
06 Haulin' 20ft enclosed car transporter
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Note- the very act of listing all of these has made me realize I have some kind of problem.....

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Re: voltage leak? -solved-

Postby marco_1978_spyder » Sun Jun 30, 2013 4:50 pm

Lol...thanks for the help. Don't feel bad I typed all this on a tablet. By the way its mark or marco but not mario..

And yep I did have to switch one of the leads on the meter. It had s special setting for 10a DC. The bad buzzer was pulling .15amps.
It now sits at zero and I can keep the battery hooked up over long periods now I hope.
Anyone know anything that won't work with the buzzer removed.? I haven't tried the car yet.
1978 Monza Spyder V8 4speed, posi
1978 Sunbird Formula V6, 5 Speed, Hatchback
1980 Sunbird Hatchback 4cyl, 4spd.
2006 Chevrolet Aveo 5 speed Hatchback
Yes, you can refer to me as Mark
Please visit my blog... http://chevymonza.blogspot.com/ Follow if you like!
Featuring special guests; Carl Beraytor and Ray D'atore

My Red spyder now has a youtube channel please Like and Subscribe!!!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOzzSR ... ISuing7KLA
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Re: voltage leak? -solved-

Postby Monza Harry » Sun Jun 30, 2013 8:25 pm

Mario, Opps I mean Marco, the headlight buzzer should be alone on that circuit (seat belt buzzer is another story, fuel pump/oil pressure switch is in that one if my memory is on today). Now if you pop the top of that buzzer/chime you will probably find a diode has gone bad and should be so so easy to fix, the hard part will be finding one these days. You may luck out and Radio Shaft may have one still. Harry (Balls yeah I heard that one B4 :lol: ) P.S. if you have an analog meter the probes will be reversed polarity to the colours ie: red = - black = + for checking diodes, many digital meters have diode checking spot these days
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Re: voltage leak? -solved-

Postby cjbiagi » Sun Jun 30, 2013 9:41 pm

Glad you found it Marco, determining what circuit the problem is in is a good first step and pulling fuses is the easiest way to at least narrow it down.
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Re: voltage leak? -solved-

Postby spencerforhire » Mon Jul 01, 2013 8:02 am

Sorry about the wrong name; I think it was my phone doing the "autocorrect" thing. Either that or my sausage-sized fingers hit the "i" instead of the "k". But that would be wrong anyway, because you spell it with a "c".
The "fleet"-
72 Vega HB Drag Car -383/'Glide/9"(9.35@146.19)(5.94@117.28 1/8th)
77 Vega Estate wagon- project(someday)will have TPI305/T-5, S-10 spindles/axles
76 Vega GT- 400/4spd/9" retired from active duty(rusty)
06 Silverado 2WD ex.cab daily
03 Silverado 2WD ex.cab (retired)
06 Haulin' 20ft enclosed car transporter
06 GMC Canyon Shop truck
07 Colorado project( 5.3 4L60e swap)
99 Saturn SL1- wife's car
01 Saturn SC2- son's project
07 Saturn Ion Redline project
and 4 more Saturn "parts cars"
Note- the very act of listing all of these has made me realize I have some kind of problem.....

Visit http://www.spencerforhire.ca
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Re: voltage leak? -solved-

Postby marco_1978_spyder » Sat Jul 06, 2013 8:47 pm

So I see the problem with removing the door chime... no idiot lights !! Do I have circuit stuck on or was the chime failing? Hmm..

I'all have to look for a spare chime..
1978 Monza Spyder V8 4speed, posi
1978 Sunbird Formula V6, 5 Speed, Hatchback
1980 Sunbird Hatchback 4cyl, 4spd.
2006 Chevrolet Aveo 5 speed Hatchback
Yes, you can refer to me as Mark
Please visit my blog... http://chevymonza.blogspot.com/ Follow if you like!
Featuring special guests; Carl Beraytor and Ray D'atore

My Red spyder now has a youtube channel please Like and Subscribe!!!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOzzSR ... ISuing7KLA
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Re: voltage leak? -solved-

Postby marco_1978_spyder » Sun Jul 07, 2013 12:30 am

OK if anyone cares.. here's what I've come up with.. there is a hot wire to the chime, but its an orange wire tied into the clock circuit, so it should have power.

That points to the chime being bad.

As far as the warning lights are concerned, the schematic shows a purple wire that connects to all those lights. It goes into the chime..through a diode then back out. So it looks like all I'll need is a diode to keep them working.

I found a spare chime from a 1980 but what do you know- it doesn't have those 2 connections.
1978 Monza Spyder V8 4speed, posi
1978 Sunbird Formula V6, 5 Speed, Hatchback
1980 Sunbird Hatchback 4cyl, 4spd.
2006 Chevrolet Aveo 5 speed Hatchback
Yes, you can refer to me as Mark
Please visit my blog... http://chevymonza.blogspot.com/ Follow if you like!
Featuring special guests; Carl Beraytor and Ray D'atore

My Red spyder now has a youtube channel please Like and Subscribe!!!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOzzSR ... ISuing7KLA
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Re: voltage leak? -solved-sort of..

Postby marco_1978_spyder » Sun Jul 07, 2013 12:29 pm

I checked 2 complete dashboards I have...
A 76 I have has a different set up.

A 78 I have had the right chime but minus the headlight warning input. Matching the lack of option T63 (headlight on warning) on the build sheet.

But what the heck I can remember the headlights. So I hook it up and it works great. Seat belt light glows and chime sounds loud and clear as they should.

For a little while,lol. Next try, no chime and the seat belt light stays on continuously. Seat belt clicked in or not.
Wtf?
So screw it, no warning chime..no seat belt reminder. As a bonus, I found that the idiot lights do function...just the engine light didn't glow. The bulb is good. I'd be interested in an 8 pin, headlight chime with the gray wire/green connector.
1978 Monza Spyder V8 4speed, posi
1978 Sunbird Formula V6, 5 Speed, Hatchback
1980 Sunbird Hatchback 4cyl, 4spd.
2006 Chevrolet Aveo 5 speed Hatchback
Yes, you can refer to me as Mark
Please visit my blog... http://chevymonza.blogspot.com/ Follow if you like!
Featuring special guests; Carl Beraytor and Ray D'atore

My Red spyder now has a youtube channel please Like and Subscribe!!!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOzzSR ... ISuing7KLA
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Re: voltage leak? -solved-sort of..

Postby stage169 » Sun Jul 07, 2013 11:55 pm

Marco I don't know if this will help but here is what I've found. You can see "Philips" brand name on the chime/buzzer. On the other side should be the part number like 461293. Not long after 77 - 78 the number changed to 470386. From the notes some changes might be needed. Looks like there are a few places that have this later number in stock. I'd like to know what they would charge hopefully not much. (Edit) Ebay listing has one for $49.00 http://www.ebay.com/itm/78-CHEVY-MONZA- ... 0315637633

RPO ZJ9 is for the Auxiliary Lighting Group (Glove Compartment and Underhood Lights and Headlights-On Reminder) If you want and yours has it tell me what number is on it. These same places also have the part number 470386 except for NOS Parts Source. This place shows they have 22 of the 470386.

Collectors Auto Oroville Gm OROVILLE, WA 800-414-4462

I would also keep the one you have because it might be repairable? Brian

Part number 461293 & 470386 (NOS Parts Source does not have the 470386)
Chicago Auto Parts Bolingbrook Gm
815-614-3122
IL

Nos Parts Source
913.220.5746
KS

Llewellyn Obsolete Northridge Gm
818-363-5094
CA

Craig Motors -Napa Gm
800-224-8111
CA

This picture is Part # 470386
Image
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Re: voltage leak? -solved-sort of..

Postby marco_1978_spyder » Mon Jul 08, 2013 11:00 pm

Wow Brian..thanks for the help. Mine is the 470386.

Hopefully someone has one for not to much. What's the diode for..why does the current flow on the blue wire need the one way flow? And I wonder if those transistors just fried because of age..l
1978 Monza Spyder V8 4speed, posi
1978 Sunbird Formula V6, 5 Speed, Hatchback
1980 Sunbird Hatchback 4cyl, 4spd.
2006 Chevrolet Aveo 5 speed Hatchback
Yes, you can refer to me as Mark
Please visit my blog... http://chevymonza.blogspot.com/ Follow if you like!
Featuring special guests; Carl Beraytor and Ray D'atore

My Red spyder now has a youtube channel please Like and Subscribe!!!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOzzSR ... ISuing7KLA
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