Mort Posted May 19, 2022 Share Posted May 19, 2022 I recently installed aftermarket gauges in my 1972 Monte Carlo. I hooked the power for them up to the fuse box. If I don't start the car for 3 or 4 days the battery is drained. The only thing I don't get is the gauges work when the car is off, but the lights in the gauges shut off when the car is off even though they are connected to the same power source. I'm certain that the gauges are draining the battery, but I'm curious why the lights don't stay on with the gauges, and what do you guys think I should do to prevent the battery from getting drained? All help is appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jft69z Posted May 19, 2022 Share Posted May 19, 2022 What kind of gauges (oil, volt, temp)? What terminal did you hook it up to on the fuse block? They should be hooked to an IGN source, not BAT. No reason they should be working with the key OFF. Guessing it never drained the battery prior to the installation? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Peters Posted May 19, 2022 Share Posted May 19, 2022 Ditto to what Joe said. Their pshould should not be "hot" all the time. Power should come from a connection that Is only hot when the key is on. rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbolt Posted May 20, 2022 Share Posted May 20, 2022 So you are saying that the lights and gauges themselves share a power source, and the lights aren't on when the car is off? That is quite odd. Maybe there is something else going on. If you have a meter you can check for power at the gauges with the ignition off. It may not be the gauges draining your battery and the issue just coincidentally started after you installed the gauges. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott S. Posted May 20, 2022 Share Posted May 20, 2022 Are they digital gauges ??? You mentioned that they are working while the car isn't running, but if the car isn't running, the gauges shouldn't be either..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EVC Posted May 20, 2022 Share Posted May 20, 2022 How many wires on each gage ? You said they were connected to the same source…. Something is cross wired…. Can you send pics? Ed C Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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