wiring help-where's this wire go?pics

[sy2185]

Finally back together after 9 months, my sy developed a current drain when off that was strong enough to drain a fully charger optima in about a day and a half. B/c I'd moved the starter sol. to the bed of the truck as well as adding a FP relay,850cfm fan and relay, and laptop charger and relay during the down time, I've double checked all my stuff and have isolated the drain to the wire off the back of the alternator that goes through a fusible link then into the wiring harness. The other fusible link going to the junction block on the firewall is clean.
On thie diagram here on page 7 the wire's marked F1 where it leaves the page on the upper right side.

http://www.syty.huryde.com/Images/Supplement/Wiring Diagram.pdf

Pulling every fuse 1 at a time had no effect on the drain and all door and glovebox switches work.All help appreciated.
Jeremy
SY2185

 

[rarebit]

that wire splits into three wires. two of which go to the ignition switch. the 3rd goes to the fuse box.

 

[TyMeUp]

Did you disconnect all wires from the alternator?

A shorted diode or voltage regulator inside the alternator will provide the huge drain you are experiencing.

Quick test: There should be NO SPARK if you touch the battery HOT wire to the Alternator BAT terminal (battery cables re-connected).

Caution: Don't let this wire touch ground or you will be learning how to replace the fuse link.

 

[sy2185]

yup, all alt. wires disc. I do capacative electrics/electronics for a living so I'm pretty up on isolating shorts/grounds.through a test light That's the only draw I can find and it's only on one of the fus. links. Anybody know where the other ends are? Where I can open it up to isolate it more?Thanks
Jeremy
SY2185

 

[TyMeUp]

OK, now you made me go get the wiring diagram.

From generator - page 43, F1 refers to the bulkhead connector pinout for pages 43 & 44. From there, it goes to page 45 where (as rarebit said) it splits three ways (splice S301). One split ends here and is labeled "From Fuse Block", (??? odd for a power feed). The other two red wires pass from pages 45 to 46 and to the ignition switch (Bat and Acc terminals).

Splice S301 is located under the left hand side of the dash in the main harness at a point where it mounts over the steering column. (probably near the ignition switch connector).

Dropping the column to unplug the ignition switch would eliminate a bad switch problem. Before opening the harness, though, I'd pull the fuse box and check its backside for melted plastic around buss bars and fuse connector points (from VD heat). You may have some circuit to circuit shorts that will bypass the fuses.

Other thoughts: Using an ammeter in series may give you a clue by knowing the exact amount of current drain. Also, if the current flow changes when you move the harnesses around, you may have a high resistance short-to-ground (not enough current to burn the wires, just enough to drain the battery).

Hope that helps, its part of what I do for a living.

 

[sy2185]

Pathed the drain through the horn/dm fuse then to the loom that powers the courtesy lights, glove box light and esp. the ashtray light(w/fuse out and dome light wires removed from ckct.,a test light w/1 side to pos. source, probe at light conn. shines brighter here than anywhere else the wire feeds). So i'm gonna cut the wire where it ties in to the feed as well as cut at the splice to follow my short. Any other tip help.
Jeremy
SY2185