help with 555d charging circuit

[MountainBuck]

Answer to Mountainbuck: I don't have an amp meter, but will get one. Any idea how many amps I likely to see so I get one that is strong enough?

Answer to Harry: With the load tester set up as you suggested, I get the full 12volt reading. I will start pulling wires as suggested.

There was a short in the wiring around the throttle cable a while back and my friend cut the burned wires out. There's a good chance he cut a necessary one. I'm looking into replacing some of the instruments int he instrument cluster that no longer function. Without them I'm flying blind. and as you say, the indicator light may be part of the problem.

Some of my more expensive meters won't go very high but my cheap Harbor Freight meter claims to max out at 10 amps.

When I had to chase down a parasitic leak in my F150, this cheap meter was enough. The F150 like most cars and trucks today will draw on the battery for a while until the computer hibernates. As I recall it started out at almost 3 amps and then will taper down to maybe 1/4 amp.

If your battery sensor is the only thing drawing on the battery when the key is off, the draw should be a little less that 1 amp.

 

[backhoeblake]

I've been busy on other stuff lately. haven't been able to work on this. I did put a battery disconnect switch on the negative terminal and left it open. In 5 days the voltage has not changed. still 12.25. Haven't got the alternator back yet. Gave it to my friend to take to O'reilly's to test. He said they don't know what they are doing and he took it back. I haven't gotten it back yet. I got the service manual for the machine on EBAY. It has the wiring diagram. The manual has several ways to check the alternator and charging circuit. Most of which you guys already gave me. But there are a few others. When I get the alternator back, I will run them. I'm going to reconnect the negative battery cable and see if I get a draw down on the battery over the next few days.