Dead Battery Problems

[HEPROX]

Hey men...hope somebody can help me out here....I came back from vacation and my batteries were dead...I took them down to the local auto parts store and both of them were done, bought 2 new batteries and hooked them up...started right up...problem fixed, right?? wrong....went to start it up a couple of batteries and would not even turn over....any ideas???

[artillerydan]

Something is "on" or you have a direct short some place. I have left the blackout light on before and you don't notice it since they are so faint anyway.

[HEPROX]

I have checked a couple of times and can't find any if the lights on...I will check again though....any other ideas???

[halftracknut]

Just for heck of it, with master switch in off position see if jeep will start...

[raymond]

Not enough info to form an educated opinion. My advice is get a meter and start looking for voltage bleeds.

Edit, just thought of something, does the M151 use the same foot starter switch as the M38A1 I ask this because I read the M38A page over at G503.com. Those guys have reported that the M38A1 foot starter switch has a documented history of developing a carbon track that drains just enough electricity from the batteries that it leaves them dead, but not enough to trigger the switch. Just an idea.

[Fil Bonica]

Here is a simple test.

With the ignition switch off and all switches off open the 24 volt connection to the battery and connect an ammeter in series between the terminals. If you read any current there is leakage somewhere. The starter switch is one. The main light is another. After that you may have to play a little Sherlock Holmes to discover to culprit.

Hope this helps.

Fil Bonica

[Francis Marion]

You still need to find the power drain like other have said but a power disconnect at the battery box helps for security and an additional guard against problems like this.