I Need Help

[lmjpsl]

I have a Ford 302 engine on a 1976 OMC.

I'm having a connection/wiring problem. The battery is fully charged. I've checked the wiring based upon smooth running before and the wiring schematic. Now, when starting the boat with a volt meter connected to the battery for checking voltage current, there happens a continual drain on the battery when the key is in the off position. I can see the voltage dropping on the volt meter. When the voltage is dropping and the key is in the off position, there is about 10 volts of current flowing to the positive terminal of the coil, the voltage regulator, the ballast resistor, the alternator, and the "I" terminal of the starter solenoid. When the current stops flowing, usually after about five minutes, there is no current flowing at the locations I previously mentioned.

What could this problem be?

 

[winterfunguy]

Re: I Need Help

Interesting that the voltage stops after about 5 min. I would unhook the pos cable then hook the black lead to the bat pos term and the red lead to the cable with the meter in the amp position...this will tell you amount of draw on the source (battery). You should then unhook the supply (batt) wire from the ignition switch and recheck test 1...look for a varience in the amp draw. If you see no change check the starter solenoid for a constant draw and by checking for voltage at the wire leading to the starter...report back with you're results.