so just like the subject says...my battery is draining, problem is i don't know where, its draining when the car isn't even on, the battery is only a few months old so i highly doubt its that, my blower fan fuse is shorting out, i just haven't had time or the money to fix it yet and i don't drive it in the winter really anyways so im not using the heat, but i don't think it would draw power from the battery when its not even on? when i plugged in my battery charger cause my battery had zero volts comin from it, i heard a buzzing sound coming from the front of the car, it lasted for bout the first 20 seconds when it was plugged in, i thought maybe something is screwed up in the headlight mechanisms thats drawing power from it? but other than that, where else should i look? and what should i do?

quote Originally posted by bigtymsfiero: so just like the subject says...my battery is draining, problem is i don't know where, its draining when the car isn't even on, the battery is only a few months old so i highly doubt its that, my blower fan fuse is shorting out, i just haven't had time or the money to fix it yet and i don't drive it in the winter really anyways so im not using the heat, but i don't think it would draw power from the battery when its not even on? when i plugged in my battery charger cause my battery had zero volts comin from it, i heard a buzzing sound coming from the front of the car, it lasted for bout the first 20 seconds when it was plugged in, i thought maybe something is screwed up in the headlight mechanisms thats drawing power from it? but other than that, where else should i look? and what should i do?

1) Disconnect the battery from the car. Now. Put your charger on it. Let it charge, then check it over a day or so to make sure it will hold the charge. It may be new, but even new batteries can only stand so much. If it holds a static charge, then take it to your local auto parts store and have it tested. They should be able to load test it and make sure it's ok.

2) Your blower fan fuse is not "shorting out." If it is blowing, it is because you've got a short somewhere on the low side of that fuse that's drawing enough current to blow the fuse. That short is also the likely cause of your battery drain problem.

Beyond that, can't help you without more info. What year, what options, what engine? Do you have the shop manual, or another source of schematics for the electrical system? If it is an '86, I've got the manual, and while most things probably stayed the same, it's better to have the manual for your year.

Some circuits are powered at all times, regardless of the ignition switch. Sounds like your problem is in one of those.

I have had this symptom several times with various cars and it was always the same problem. There are diodes in the alternator that rectify the alternating current that it produces to feed direct current to charge your system.
These diodes work like filters and they eventually begin to leak. When they do, the ability of your alternator to charge your system is only slightly diminished but there is a constant drain when the engine is not running.
To test this, disconnect the ground lead from the battery and measure the resistance between the disconnected lead and the positive terminal. The reading should be nearly infinite if there is no problem. If less than infinity, unhook the alternator wires and measure again. If it goes to infinity with the alternator disconnected and something less when connected, replace the alternator. If not it is something else.
When strapped for cash, I have pulled a battery cable every time I parked until payday arrived.
There are of course, other possible causes. I have read here of headlight motors being the culprit. That sounds strange to me but that is what has been posted.

Do your headlights work OK ?? Most of the time one or both of your headlight motors is not working properly and this causes the battery to drain.

ill second the headlights. look to see that the motor isant in the endless spin my old car had thos problem motor would just keep spinning agter the light was down.

I too agree with it being the headlights.................I had the same problem. Turn them on and then undo your blue wire. Its got a plug. This will disable your headlight motors. Try it and see if your battery quits draining........I believe it to be a frequent problem with the first generation headlights........hope this helps.................steve

[This message has been edited by thefredman (edited 03-24-2009).]