Picked up the car on Friday from service, it is running great. They showed me the parts replaced. Battery post terminal was going to be sent back to the manufacturer for examinination. They did not do the repair for free, but I received a substantial discount.

 

This is good news...but the battery cable was not replaced? Or was it, in the end (no pun) found to be not part of the problem?

 

Yes it was good news. The battery cable was replaced but it turned out to be the positive cable not the neg as the service rep had stated.

 

That would explain the possibility of the short that drains the battery.