1999 JGC - Starting Problems

[wkirby]

Where do I start? I came home and my brake lights were on and I haven't even driven the JGC in a day. Battery was dead and wouldn't start, so I jumped started the battery and the light wouldn't go off. Unhooked the Brake Light Switch - no brake lights. Charged my battery overnight and installed a new brake switch, and that seemed to fix that problem. Started the jeep but it would die if you let off the gas. After second try it acted like the battery was dead and wouldn't turn over. Now a ticking noise is coming from under the dash. I charged the battery again and as soon as I put the posts on the ticking noise is back and if you try to start it all the lights go dim and acts like battery is drained immediately (all interior lights and hood light stay dim).

I had a tow package installed last year and they wired the harness to the left tail light. Since then all but one of my speakers have gone out so I think that is the culprit of my problems.

Where should I start checking to fix this? I'm tired of car-pooling with my wife... she gets up too early!

[wkirby]

I'm definately not going to win any mechanic awards in my lifetime. I put in a new battery and it is running fine.

The battery was less than a year old, any clues why it didn't last very long? It was the high-end ever-ready battery from Wal-mart. I changed brands this time!