I am starting a new post on this as all of my other issues have been resolved.

With engine running I am pulling 13.7 volts at the battery, so it is charging fine.

Fully charged the new battery is at 12.4 volts. Overnight it drops to about 12. If not driven it keeps on dropping and eventually gets so low that the car won't "go to sleep" and drains until dead.

I have checked the "usual suspects" I read about in the forum (such as auto features on steering column and lamp sensor/ timer) and it makes no difference whether they are left on or off.

I have also checked every mini fuse in the car and none of them are pulling any current.

I guess I should check the cartridge fuses next but I don't know how to do that. (I tried pulling one and inserting the multimeter probes into the socket and somehow turned on the radio. At that point I decided I was in over my head and didn't do any more cartridges for fear of frying something)

Is there a way to hook up the multimeter to the battery to see what it is drawing when the car is asleep? And then pull the cartrdges one by one to see which one is drawing down the battery?

 

are you sure you dont have a faulty battery

 

Is there a way to hook up the multimeter to the battery to see what it is drawing when the car is asleep? And then pull the cartrdges one by one to see which one is drawing down the battery?[/QUOTE]

Take the negative lead off your battery and bridge the gap(make a connection)with your multi meter set to amps ???

 

Hi Russ,
Police666 makes a very valid point. You should first satisfy yourself that your battery is good to start with.

I have and would recommend buying a DC clip on ammeter, it is far easier than messing about disconnecting things, and safer.

I have attached the manufacturers method for testing the current drain and within you will see that your car will take 60 minutes to fully shut down. You should then see a drain of less than 30mA.

Hope this helps,

 

Ignition Switch?

 

+1 on potential faulty battery.

Also, after 45 minutes after shut down touch each relay in the trunk - if any are "warm" or "hot" - this should point you in the right direction.

 

Moranir have a look at this