Ok, I have a 86 Elky that I am doing some body work on. A couple of weeks ago I changed the hood to a custom steel hood, started fine before now the battery will not hold a charge. The only way I can start it is by jumping it, battery is ussually completely dead. *** is going on, I even unhooked the dual hood lights to see if that was the problem. TIA

I don't see the relationship between a new hood and a dead battery. How old is the battery?

I don't see the relationship between a new hood and a dead battery. How old is the battery?

Agreed, probably just a dead battery, or you could have a drain somewhere, yet I do not see how swapping a hood could create it. What other work have you done to the car recently?

The battery is less than 6 months old. However since I replaced the battery until i changed the hood, the Elky would start no problem. That's why I think it has something do do with that. It doesn't sound logical to me either. The only other work I have done is in the rear, took the bumper off and welded patch panels on.

This may be silly but I'm just brainstorming here - did the original hood have an underhood light attached? Maybe it's not reattached or not reattached properly allowing the light to remain on all the time. Also, the hood's not making contact with the battery when closed is it? I don't think you would miss that but I'm just throwing out ideas...

Yeah, it has the original light and I added a second light shortly after I got the Elky. I did have to remove the paint from under the light brackets to get the lights to work. I have them unpluged at the connector right now until this gets straightend out.
I don't think the hood is making contact with the battery, I'll check though to make sure. Also it is a side post battery.

Sounds coincidental. Start your diagnosis to see if there is a battery drain.

IF you find that drain, let me know where. I have the exact same problem, and just can't find the damn thing. I installed a stereo, but that was in for 3 years before I got the drain. All my system wires are fine, I've checked all lights, etc, and still can't find a damn drain. Changed the batter twice even after they tested as ok, still nothing.

Just wondering, hows the Alternator? I'm sure you have checked it already, but whatever.

The alt was checked at the parts store, found good there. Haven't had much time to work on it lately.

:D I believe I finally found the problem. The wires on the back of the cig lighter had rubbed together making contact. Put some tape on the wires and my Elky seems to be back to normal.

Ahh, that makes sense....you must've bumped the cigarette lighter with the custom steel hood when you were installing it.

Seriously now, if the wires for the lighter put a short across the battery and a fuse didn't pop then consider yourself lucky. That's how most car electrical fires start.

YIKES!!! lol
Yea, I had a drain problem too, turned out to be a bad diode in the alt. Glad you got it worked out bud. Electrical can be a bit*h!
LATER
dug

This is why you should never put the improper fuses in the fuse box, or jury-rig it to bypass the fuse altogether.