alternator questions
 

I have an early 85 944 that has a problem. my battery light glows when the lights are on, windshield wipers, defog for the rear window etc. if the car is not driven for a few days, the battery is dead. with the ignition off, I found a drain on the battery that lasts for about ten seconds, then goes away for about thirty seconds, then starts the cycle again. I figured this was the clock. but i cleaned the battery terminals at both ends, and replaced the voltage regulator to no avail. I thought about running a ground wire straight to the alt. attaching bolt. any help? or is the alternator shot?

It's not the clock. It would pull a constent draw on the battery and very very small. It could be so many things that it's not even funny. It going to be a process of elmenation.

1. if you disconnect the battery does it go dead after a few days? (it could be a bad battery)

2. if you disconect the alternator does the draw on the battery stop. (if so it could be the alternator( bad diodes )have it checked at the local parts store) Or it could still be in wiring of that circuit.

3. start pulling fuses one by one to try to stop the draw on the battery. (hopfully you'll find the circuit thats causing the problem) there are several circuits that operate with the key in the off poisition.

Good luck
jody

Oh Yeah!! DUH!! Thanks for the hints, I guess when it's your own car, your (my!) brain quits working. The battery doesn,t go dead when disconnected for a few days, so I,m O.K. there. As for your other hints, I wasn't smart enough to think of those, but will let you know when I try them. Thanks again!