Ford: 85 Crown Vic LTD help!

"JC" <rr.com> wrote in message
news:rSR6b.13353$southeast.rr.com... 
I 
fan 

Do you have a power antenna? Have you disconnected the voltage regulator
while testing for a draw? How are you testing for a draw?

You might check the trunk light to be sure it turns off
when in the down postion. I've seen that often back in



mike hunt



JC wrote: 

Is the battery discharging over night or in a few days? Why do you think
there is a draw?

I am asking because a weak ground (or rust between body components) can
weaken the ground line, causing the symptoms you describe. I had some goofy
trouble codes and very intermittent problems with the engine electronics on
my '84 'Bird until I repaired a few splices in the ground wires that got
corroded. The fan probably uses the body for ground. The connection
between body and engine can get corroded and cause similar symptoms.

If you are seeing a spark when reconnecting the battery, that's normal. I
think Ford still recommended using a test lamp to check for current draw in
'85. With the car off, (and probably hood lamp pulled) you disconnect the
battery cable, then make the connection between cable and post with a test
lamp. Anything more than a low glow suggests a current draw. Kind of a
goofy test, but it's been used for years. I used a taillight bulb with
wires soldered to it. It glowed quite a bit but you could tell it wasn't
really bright.

I hope this helps.

Paul in Dayton

"JC" <rr.com> wrote in message
news:rSR6b.13353$southeast.rr.com... 
I 
fan 

Thanks for the reply, I don't have a power antena, I have disconnected the
voltage regulator and still getting a draw, they way I am testing for a draw
is I take off the negative battery cable off the battery post. I connect one
end of a circut tester to the battery cable and touch the other end to the
battery post and I get a solid fairley bright light. Only way I know how to
do it. Then again I am no mechanic or what have you and have limited tools.
Thanks though for any help.

J

I have completely removed the trunk light just to be on the safe side. Still
didn't fix the problem.

J

Some good sugesstions. I will double check the ground and try cleaning where
it connects to the block, I already replaced the negative battery cable one,
but and going to have to do that again. I didn't run it correctly and as a
result it got too close to a belt and worn some of the outer coating off. Oh
and if I leave the battery cable on? Well I get off of work at 9:00, get
home by 9:30pm, I go to work at 12:00 noon and if I left the cable on the
battery I would come out to a bead battery. Also does anyone know where the
relay is for the windshield wipers on this model? My wipers are stuck on and
I have to pull the fuse to turn it off.

J

"JC" <rr.com> wrote in message
news:KEd7b.15806$southeast.rr.com... 
draw 
one 
to 
tools. 

That's all you need to do to test for a draw. Have you removed the fusible
links one by one from the starter relay? If you have the door open, put a
tennis ball on the pin to eliminate any circuits opened by having the door
open. Sometimes it's more than just the lights.