battery drains dead overnight

[ZacharyWS]

If i park the car for more than about 4 hours I come out and my battery is at about 8-10 not enough to crank the car over. Since this problem came to be I grabbed the battery out of my corrado (2 month old optima red top) and it still does it. If i disconnect my battery after I park and reconnect it before starting it does not drain.

Im guessing its a relay getting stuck on? How would I go about finding out why this things draining dead?

My radio turns off when the keys out, My inline pump turns off, I unplug my radar detector. Since this problem started I have done nothing different than before when it had no problems.

Thanks for the help!

[le91688]

u need a new battery

[njm23]

IDK about needing as new battery since he said it does it to a brand new battery.. Something has an open circuit causing it do drain. Get a multimeter and test the battery/alternator to make sure they are both putting out the correct amperage. It may be a bad/corroded ground somewhere or a loose connection..

[ZacharyWS]

cluster reads ~14.6 when car is running and alternator is spinning. Alternator charges battery when driving as seen by a Jump start making the car run.

Battery is NEW. its definately not the battery.

Where would you start looking for a lose ground ?

[Tugboatguy]

cluster reads ~14.6 when car is running and alternator is spinning. Alternator charges battery when driving as seen by a Jump start making the car run.

Battery is NEW. its definately not the battery.

Where would you start looking for a lose ground ?

Actually the problem isn't a open circuit or a loose ground. An open circuit is a circuit with a break in it that will not allow current to flow , and since a loose ground can only cause an open circuit that's not your problem either. Your problem is a closed circuit, something is not shutting off and causing the battery to drain.If you have access to an Amp meter (not volt meter)you can connect it to the batt and see what the current draw is , with the car off the draw should be in the Milli-Amps (call a stealer-ship they can tell you what range the draw should be). Your probably going to see a draw that's much higher, start pulling fuses till the draw drops to spec. Once you find the right circuit you can fix the problem. Of coarse it is winter it could just be a bad salt build up around the starter positive - negative connections and salt conducts electricity.

[whoace]

Use a DVOM or a test light and connect in series with with negative terminal on battery. Start pulling fuses until the light dims/goes off. It is more accurate with an ammeter since most draws will only be about .5-1 A...