voltage problem

I have a 97 escort. i have bought a new battery and altenater . when i start the car it runs fine, but when i let it sit for a couple of hours the battery is dead. i put a volt meter on the battery and i can see it drop in voltage while the car is off.. i have don't everything i can to figure out what could be pulling a drain on it.. can someone help me out .. need to know where to start? thanks

Buy a test light. Disconnect the positive battery cable. Hook up the test light between the battery post and battery clamp. If the light is on then you have drain somewhere. One at a time pull your fuses out. When you pull out a fuse that makes the test light go out then that is the circuit draining your battery.

okay i will try that out

okay i found that the fuse for the fuel inj. is the one causing it.. what would be your suggestion on this?

I have a 96 1.9L with the exact same problem as above. Anyone have any more ideas?

okay i found that the fuse for the fuel inj. is the one causing it.. what would be your suggestion on this?

there was a post just recently with the same problem it turned to be within the wire harness or plug where the plug goes to the fuel rail. ( I think).

After more investigating with my newly purchased haynes manual, I found that when I unplug the altenator the short goes away--Possibly shorted diodes in inside.

chief, it sounds like your describing a stuck fuel pump relay, causing the pump to run constantly. With the test light still connected and fuel inj. fuse reconnected, locate the fuel pump relay and switch it with another relay.