Why does the electrical system drain when the car is stopped even after the battery and alternator have been replaced?

Answer 1

It sounds like you have a short, the best way to find a short is to take off one battery cable and connect a 12 volt test light betweem tje cab;e you removed and the post it goes on. make sure that hood light bulb is removed and nothing else is trying to draw power. If test light comes on you have a short. If you do have a short pull one fuse at a time until light goes out. Once you have pulled a fuse and light does go out the problem is in that curcuit. Make sure you put back each fuse after you have pulled it and determined that it isn't that cucuit. Also most radios will pull power for the clock when key is off. Rcently I fixed a dodge caravan that the hood lights werent shutting off because the holder for the switch was cracked and the switch would push down inside of the holder and not shut off. The fix was easy I just took a twisty from off of a bread package and stripped off the material and wrapped the bare wire around where it was cracked and twisted it. Then you pull up the switch higher than it needs to be and close the hood and it will adjust itself. If it doesnt work the first time pull it up higher. Good LuckIt sounds like you have an excessive "Parasitic draw" problem. It is called parasitic because when the car is not running, certain components feed off the battery, such as the computer, clock etc. When other components like a dome light is left on, it will take more energy then the battery can supply in a short time draining the battery. If you are sure that everything is off, including hood light, dome light, glove box light, trunk light, then your best to take it into an independent repair shop and have them troubleshoot it.