Battery keeps draining

I've got an '84 4cyl. and about a week ago something has been completely draining my battery.

When the problem started I went out and bought a new battery because I thought my old one was toast.. so I put the new one in, and the next day I went outside and it was completely dead.

So something is just completely sapping the juice from my battery.

Does anyone have any clue as to what could be causing this?

(I also had my alternator and starter tested, and both were fine)

could be electrical,
but experience with my '88 was that belt and pulley deflection occurs under harsh driving experience, and rubs a minute hole in the lower case of the battery.
I have also seen some GM and Ford battery trays are bolted directly down onto a frame or body, and the carriage bolts can sometimes puncture the bottom of the battery, so acid leaks while driving;
completely dead battery next day.
probably not your issue, but worth checking.
you said alternator ok, so maybe a headlight motor sticking, or interior dome light on???
no new electronics added, stereo, amp?
if it takes overnight, must be a slow draw, just have to isolate it.

make sure all lights and acc. are off. then check for draw on battery at the termanal. all computer equiped cars make a small arc when you attach battery termanal, short spark, but it shouldnt be a large spark. if it is start pulling fuses, one at a time with ignition off, no fuse should create a spark unless somthing is drawing, like the domelights will when you pull that fuce with the door open. to make sure push the button on the door that turns the dome lights on while you pull fuse. if you find one that creates a spark that shouldnt pull that one and leave it out overnight, if the battery is still dead in the morning try anouther the next time.
i hate electrical problems they r a pain in the ass to track down!

I haven't added any new electronics recently, the only time was when I put a cd deck in about 3 years ago.

But thanks a bunch for the suggestions guys, i'll take a look at my headlight motor, and I'll try lookin at the fuses... and I'll post again and let ya know what happens.

I suppose I should say that my dad seems to think that it's something with the starter and the wires connecting to it. There are 3 wires connecting to the starter, one from the battery that's black, another one that goes from the starter to the alternator and then up to the ignition switch that's red, and there's one smaller wire (i'm not sure where it goes).

But we've tested the red wire that goes from the starter to the alternator, and it seems to be shorting out. So somewhere, there's a connection between that wire and the block. Could this be the problem?

looking at some schematics now:

off solenoid: black wire to POS(+) batt.
purple "Y's 1-(through a fusible link) to fuel injection
2- to clutch/neutral safety sw.

1- dead ends at fuel injection
2- continues its circuit through (auto-trunk release, and then) ignition
(manual- purple & then yellow staight into ignition switch... then both (auto or manual) out red to power distribution and into fusible link (at battery junction block) back to the POS(+) of battery.

if you need, I can probably scan this in and email to you.
if something is pulling a drain these are the starting places:
fusible links or possibly ignition switch (if it has started to stick with assy or run) in on position.
or if yours is loaded and a power mirror or window toggle has constant power to them?
two of the worst problems I hate (and 84fiero agreed with one in earlier post)
#2- exhaust
#1- ELECTRICAL is a pain.
good luck.
chris
nrt racing

If you have a rear compartment light, check that the switch is working properly. If the lamp isn't turning off when you shut the decklid, it'll drain you.

forgot about that trunk light, but ya make sure thats shuting off. im not even sure how thats switched on and off to be honest with you.

Thanks for the help :)

Well, I'm looking at the wiring diagram from my chiltons manual, here's what it says:

1 - Black cable goes from the battery to the solenoid

2 - Red cable goes from solenoid to alternator, and to ignition switch

3 - Purple cable (i have auto tranny) goes to gear selector switch, then turns into a yellow cable, then goes to the ignition switch.


I've tested both the black and the purple and they seem to be fine. I'm only getting a short when I test the red cable with my ohmmeter. I've been tracing the cable around the block and it seems to be fine (no wear or melting), the only place I have left to trace it to is up front under the dash. I'm going to start looking for that right now...

I don't think it's the trunk light, the stupid thing has been burnt out since I bought the car 3 years ago. I also forgot to mention that my fiero has power nothing, no windows, mirrors, no steering... it's all manual.

just because it isnt working doesnt mean it cant be grounding out somewhere. check to make sure it has juice to it with a test light, if it doesnt that may be the culprit, or you could have a blown fuse. but just because it doesnt work doesnt mean it isnt the problem.

Ok, cool, I'll take a look at it.

Well, I tore apart my entire interior trying to find any bad wiring, and haven't found anything. I've searched all over the engine compartment and can't find anything (yet). I'll do a bit more testing tonight and tomorrow, but if I still haven't found anything I might just put it all back together and take it in somewhere. I'm starting to get desperate..

make sure all lights and acc. are off. then check for draw on battery at the termanal. all computer equiped cars make a small arc when you attach battery termanal, short spark, but it shouldnt be a large spark. if it is start pulling fuses, one at a time with ignition off, no fuse should create a spark unless somthing is drawing, like the domelights will when you pull that fuce with the door open. to make sure push the button on the door that turns the dome lights on while you pull fuse. if you find one that creates a spark that shouldnt pull that one and leave it out overnight, if the battery is still dead in the morning try anouther the next time.
i hate electrical problems they r a pain in the ass to track down!
YOU ARE THE MAN! I was having this rapid ticking sound just audible enough to here, i didnt know where the hell it was coming from, so for the last 4 months this sound was draining my battery. Every nite i would disconnect the batt cable so the batt wouldnt drain, I started pulling fuses and got to the fuel pump fuse pulled it and the ticking stopped, i'm going to leave the batt hooked up tonite to see if she is not drained in the AM, of course i'll keep the fuse pulled out. I appreciate that feedback looks like its going to save me alot of headache, not to mention bolts going into the battery, everytime i would hook the batt back up it would arch ALOT and literally but slowly melt the bolt so i would have to replace the blot every month. I appreciate your info and thank you very much :):)

Ok, in saying that what can i do to rectify it? :) Thanks!

they do sell a tester that is supposed to find shorts without contact with the wire. it supposed to find them threw rugs and interior trim. i belive northern tool sells it. let me look for it and get back to you.

heres the sight with the tester, i thought it was a lot cheaper tho. anyway here it is.

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=6970&productId=200305011&R=200305011

I know this thread is a few days old but if you're still around six-pack, I have an 86 Fiero SE and had the same problem several years ago. My fuel pump went bad and was running constantly, even with the ignition turned off. Sit inside the vehicle with the ignition off and listen for the fuel pump running. If it's working properly, it'll run for a couple of seconds and then shut off. You might check the fuel pump relay as well but I had to change the pump entirely. Also, if you do find that is the problem, go to a GM dealer and spend the extra money. I bought an aftermarket fuel pump and had to replace it shortly thereafter. Hope that helps.