Thread: DeathGod / Other Mechanic Types I need assistance!

First let me say a coil pack draining the battery is RARE but not impossible. If that fluid in the pic is truly coming out of the pack then you definitely need a new one and it could very well be the issue. As far as the corrosion goes 90% of it will be gone with the coil pack. The rest just knock it down. If you wish to use an anti corrosion product on it i recommend using the little packs you can buy for either the spark plugs or light sockets. Both will do the job very well. That however is your call because most people wouldn't do it just because its an extra step not because its ineffective.

I do find it odd he could not tract the short by pulling the fuses. Those coil packs are fused by the ignition system. If you wish to answer a few questions here and there i might be able to help you track the source of the problem. Oh and i can buy that pack for 65 bucks + tax if you wish to figure a way to exchange the part for money. Your call on that. I have no issue fronting the money for the part if you wish to send me a check for the part and shipping.

How long did he have the car to trouble shoot the short?
Does it have power seats, windows, and door locks?
Do they all work properly?
Have you noticed any dimming in the lights while driving?
Do all of the lights work?
Have there been any electrical hiccups that you noticed out of the normal?


I noticed you took the ground cable off instead of the positive side. Does that keep the battery from draining?

Did you follow the positive cable to the starter to make sure its secured? If not i recommend doing it. That particular one being lose can continue to arc draining the battery.

Does it drain only when sitting or while its driving as well?
Have you had the alt tested to see if its starting to burn out? Seems unlikely but it can blow resistors inside the regulator part that will continue to pull charge from the battery.
Have you hooked a meter to the battery and checked how its charging before and after a load? Just in case with and without a load means running with nothing on but the engine and with everything on like ac, lights, and radio.


To be perfectly honest most questions are going to seem incredibly stupid but i have to work the problem in my head so i have to eliminate item by item. Its also worth noting those car are known for the head light switch shorting out but not in a way the lights dont work.

Easiest way to tell is leave the lights going for about 15 or 30 minutes while your doing something else and feel the switch. If its actually hot and not cold to just barely warm you probably need a switch. If thats the case you can test the theory by unplugging it over night and seeing if the battery drains.

Alright, I'll do my best to answer the questions, I'm pretty terrible at this.

He had the car since about 7am, and I picked it up around 4:15.

I have power everything in the car. Everything works, minus a few light bulbs being blown and the window motors just being old and slow, they all still work. Same with the locks, one is somewhat busted, but again I've attributed most of this to age.

There has been zero dimming or loss of power while driving, and no electrical hiccups that I haven't had before.

I didn't realize that I should have taken off the positive instead of the ground, I just took one of them off assuming that I had killed the circuit, so maybe I should go take the other off instead. I'll also go and try to follow the cable.

I'm not sure if it drains while driving, but nothing electric had kicked out while driving, so I assume it's still being charged while the car is running.

He did something to check the alt, but I'm not sure to what extent he checked it.

I also don't have a meter so I can't really test the battery output / load stuff that you mentioned. Also if it was a short on the lights though after pulling the fuses wouldn't that have stopped the issue? I only have two small fuse boxes so there isn't too much that needs to be tested in that regard.

I do thank you for the offer on the part but I already jumped and purchased one that will arrive tomorrow or thursday. As much as I would like to save money, trying to get the car working sooner is higher up on the list of things.

build me a hydrogen car, deathgod.

Originally Posted by Rawr

Alright, I'll do my best to answer the questions, I'm pretty terrible at this.

He had the car since about 7am, and I picked it up around 4:15.

I have power everything in the car. Everything works, minus a few light bulbs being blown and the window motors just being old and slow, they all still work. Same with the locks, one is somewhat busted, but again I've attributed most of this to age.

There has been zero dimming or loss of power while driving, and no electrical hiccups that I haven't had before.

I didn't realize that I should have taken off the positive instead of the ground, I just took one of them off assuming that I had killed the circuit, so maybe I should go take the other off instead. I'll also go and try to follow the cable.

I'm not sure if it drains while driving, but nothing electric had kicked out while driving, so I assume it's still being charged while the car is running.

He did something to check the alt, but I'm not sure to what extent he checked it.

I also don't have a meter so I can't really test the battery output / load stuff that you mentioned. Also if it was a short on the lights though after pulling the fuses wouldn't that have stopped the issue? I only have two small fuse boxes so there isn't too much that needs to be tested in that regard.

I do thank you for the offer on the part but I already jumped and purchased one that will arrive tomorrow or thursday. As much as I would like to save money, trying to get the car working sooner is higher up on the list of things.

How long does it take for the battery to drain?

Originally Posted by Xavsnipe

build me a hydrogen car, deathgod.

Piece of cake. I can do you one better then that. How about a v-8 with probably 30 miles a gallon, higher hp and torque, and almost 0 internal parts to break?

Originally Posted by deathgodusmc

Piece of cake. I can do you one better then that. How about a v-8 with probably 30 miles a gallon, higher hp and torque, and almost 0 internal parts to break?

I like it...I can pay you in many different ways.

Originally Posted by deathgodusmc

How long does it take for the battery to drain?

Parked it at about 7:15 yesterday, it was dead by 10:30 / 11

Originally Posted by Xavsnipe

I like it...I can pay you in many different ways.

LOL. Completely serious though i have it under lock and key right now. My next step is to make a 4 banger. Then a six and take it to market. Both fiat and mercedes can kiss my ass for trying to take my invention. When they come up with the cash i'll tell them how to make it run correctly at higher rpms.

lol. Awesome. I don´t know much about cars or engines....and when I say I don´t know much I mean I don´t know shit about them. But, hey....just make sure you don´t get whacked. Just in case, you should send me the recipe