SHO eating batteries

[REDMTX]

I have searched this forum a bit and did not find anything conclusive on this. I have replaced three batteries and have had the alternator replaced and tested recently at the dealership. The battery does not hold a charge and it is obvious that there is something draining the battery on it when it is parked. Has anyone had any luck finding this type of problem? My boss was a mechanic at one time and other than pulling fuses with a amp meter he said it could be a bad connection with a ground. Are there any obvious places I should look before I start pulling fuses out? love my car, but electrical gremlins will make you pull your hair out.

 

[Vnuk1]

Got an after market stereo in it?

 

[REDMTX]

Got an after market stereo in it?
I do, what are you thinking?

 

[Vnuk1]

Like amps and subwoofers, you might have a drain coming from the stereo I had that problem once.

 

[mustangracer91]

yup, if the amp is shorted internally or miswired it will definately **** a battery, same with the radio. Also, check make sure that there's nothing in the cigarette lighter or that the lighter element isn't being jammed down...a customer's SHO had a different than original lighter element, and when you closed the lid, it would push the lighter down and hold it...they also had a cd player they'd set on it...eventually it had a minor wiring fire, because everyone ignored the battery drain issue.

 

[shotime1994]

See how many amps your drawing when the car is off.

 

[mustangracer91]

See how many amps your drawing when the car is off.

also, you didn't mention if you'd checked the alt wire or the starter...I have had cars that took a crap load of amps to crank that killed the battery too

 

[REDMTX]

Thanks for the input everybody. I will have a good place to start when I tear into the old girl this weekend. Got a knew clutch today and it is awesome. You never know how bad it gets until you have a new one. Just disappointed i couldn't tool around town more because of the battery issue.

 

[REDMTX]

Aha!!

Well, it turns out my car was literally eating the batteries. I pulled out the battery and brought it to the dealer for a warranty. When they tested it, they noticed it had no water in it. The battery tray was put in wrong, or modified when they put in a new water pump and that was causing it to rub on the AC belt. The end result was a hole in the battery. I pulled the tray off and straightened it out to what I believe was the stock configuration and put in the new battery. Hope this cures it. I found a 1/4" rachet under the battery tray! Incidently, I am learning that there are no easy fixes on the SHO. Not alot of room under the hood.