Battery Problems / Short

HEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLPPPPPPPPPPPPP...... ........
Maybe you can offer a suggestion.
I may have a severe Car battery problem ...
Car is 1985 Cadillac Eldorado

I am now on my 4th battery in 1 year...counting the one in the car before it was replaced last December.

It seems that, at least the last two (2) new ones developed a "short circuit" within the battery.

they were brand new, from NAPA, shipped within a month or so of installation.

Napa has honored the warranty... however it is a hassle to have this problem.

The last battery was installed about 4 weeks before it was DEAD ,,, which occurred while I was gone out of the country for 3 1/2 weeks.

So, one would think it is simply power drain or the Alternator.

But,
The Alternator "appears" to be putting out 14.5 volts steadily while car is running.
I spent most of the weekend disconnecting various components and removing all fusses I could find... and tested for short circuits...
found none.

and tested alternator , basic Diode test.

Any ideas..????.

3rd brand new battery went in yesterday...

NAPA store records show that they have sold approx. 100 of these batteries in last year, and about 5 were returned... 2 were mine a couple were from airport equipment that is used constantly.

Ideas?

Newer cars seem to die after awhile because they always leave something powered. Make sure you have everything off, as if you were parking it for a few weeks again. Remove the under hood bulb to open that circuit. If you have the negative cable disconnected, connect an ammeter (on most multimeters) between the neg cable & neg battery post. This will give you an idea of how much current still travels while the car is static. If there is excessive draw, You might remove fuses one at a time, looking at the meter. You may find a fuse that is common to only a couple circuits, narrowing the problem somewhat. If you let a dead battery sit dead and continously have a load, it prolly will short the battery - start the car regularly or disconnect the battery?

Several people have suggested thatt the problem is between the battery and starter or within the starter as a SHORT therefore drainig the battery.

How do i trace that effectively... the wiring is not as basic as one would think.
And, when under the car there is vry little room to examine the starter.

IDEAS???

Thanks
Ty