Electrical short 1993 3.2L

Sorry for the long post, wanted to get everything in.

I have a 1993 3.2L with 141,000 miles and am having an electrical problem. I just replaced the headgaskets, valve cover gaskets, o-rings in the coolant pipes and put a new t-stat and gasket in. The car ran great for about 5 days, but when we got in for church Sunday, the battery was dead. I jumped it and let it idle in the driveway for about 30 minutes, and then drove it around for 10-15 minutes to charge up the battery. During this time the radio was going on and off by itself. When I turned it off and tried to restart it it just clicked. I removed the battery and charged it all night and put it in the next day and it started right up. I let it run for a few minutes and then drove it around some. When I turned it off and tried to start it again it did the same thing. Just clicking when you turned the key. I took the battery out and put it in my truck and it started the truck just fine, so I know its not the battery. I put the battery from my truck in the rodeo and started it about 8 times in a row and it started great. I let it run for 10 minute sin the driveway and turned it off and tried to start it again, and same thing, just clicking. I switched the batteries back to their original cars and everything started fine again.

It seems to only happen after it has run for a while, shut off and then tried to restart. I have a feeling if I disconnecteed the battery cables and allowed it to set for a few minutes disconnected it would also start back up, but as long as the battery remains connected it wont restart, just click.

Electrical systems are beyond me, anyone have any ideas?

Also wanted to thank you guys, a search for coolant leak helped me pinpoint the o-ring problem a few weeks ago.

Bad ground maybe?

Have you checked the voltage across the battery when the truck is running? It should be 14V or better. If not, you have a bad alternator.

It doesn't sound like this is your problem, but it won't hurt to check.

Also, have you checked the wiring on your starter? Maybe something is loose or corroded there.

Sounds like a bad alternator. 1993+ rodeos are HIGHLY electrical dependant & will draw the battery down in no time if the alternator cannot keep up. Like php says, check for 14VDC across the battery with the truck idling. Anything less (or more) indicates a bad alternator.
G/luck
Joel

Well, if you have a volt meter, you might as well check your battery cables for voltage drop. Attach a lead to each end of the cable and if you get a voltage reading of more than .5 volts, then you need new cables.

Since you've been doing engine work you should look at the ground on the front of the block right above the exhaust manifold (pass. side). If that gets loose or coated in oil and grime (major engine work) it can give you all kinds of electrical problems.