Electrical Problem

[KJ4YXY]

My Festiva has a major electrical problem.
Ok so since my car is at my farm and I am not there for a week my car sits. I see it once a week, and every week I leave the battery connected to the car.
Stuff appears on the battery (corrosion?) and the car drains the battery. I am not sure what is causing the drain. I am pretty sure it is a bad connection somewhere because I had a similar problem and I juggled the positive cable and it would work, but now it seems to be doing it again and I am pretty sure that the positive cable is not the issue.
I know for a fact that I will need a new fusible linkage box soon (it has problems), and I will replace the positive cable.
Do you think that (box and cable) are the problems or there might be other problems, I also know that the coil might be bad - not sure.

I will upload a video on Youtube of what is happening, later today.
Thanks

[Movin]

Do you have a test light or DVOM ?

[KJ4YXY]

Do you have a test light or DVOM ?

I have a simple multimeter - that I do not know how to use

[KJ4YXY]

Here is the link to the video - it might help:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6w1JW0M3tg

[Movin]

Does it have a dc 10 amp scale ?

Nice under hood shot! I would like to see how those
clear plug wires look after dark! Be careful stacking
to many tools on the battery...

You must have a battery charger as well?

[KJ4YXY]

Does it have a dc 10 amp scale ?

Nice under hood shot! I would like to see how those
clear plug wires look after dark! Be careful stacking
to many tools on the battery...

You must have a battery charger as well?

Thanks - I think in that photo I currently didnt have the wires on...
Yes Im pretty sure it does, I measure in the ohms area of the thing.
Yes I have a charger - you will see in the video (if you watch it.)

[Movin]

Your video wasn't ready for viewing for a while. You need to leave the battery
on trickle charge overnight, 2 amps.

To do a drain test you will choose the amp scale, 10 if you have that.
Hook up the battery so that it is ready to be used, key off, doors shut,
no drains that you know of.
put the neg lead in with the wires on that pos cable end with the bolt
holding the 2 cables in it.Touch the pos end to the center of the post
and hold it there. with your other hand wiggle the cable end and disconnect it
holding all other leads in place. When the cable end breaks connection
any drain will be measured on the meter. the reading should less than 500
milli-amps.

[KJ4YXY]

Your video wasn't ready for viewing for a while. You need to leave the battery
on trickle charge overnight, 2 amps.

To do a drain test you will choose the amp scale, 10 if you have that.
Hook up the battery so that it is ready to be used, key off, doors shut,
no drains that you know of.
put the neg lead in with the wires on that pos cable end with the bolt
holding the 2 cables in it.Touch the pos end to the center of the post
and hold it there. with your other hand wiggle the cable end and disconnect it
holding all other leads in place. When the cable end breaks connection
any drain will be measured on the meter. the reading should less than 500
milli-amps.

Ok - I will see what I can do - so is the purpose of this test to test my battery or my cables from my battery?

Sorry about the video(YouTube doesnt really like me.)

[Movin]

To see if anything is draining the battery..Your radio and your computer should
be using less than 500 milliamps for keep alive power.

Your battery is too dead to test, charge it overnight at 2 amps

[KJ4YXY]

To see if anything is draining the battery..Your radio and your computer should
be using less than 500 milliamps for keep alive power.

Your battery is too dead to test, charge it overnight at 2 amps

Well I took out the radio... Do you know if there is a fuse I can take out to ensure that the open doors and interior dome lights stay off all the time?
Because I know that they have a wiring issue to where the dome light doesnt work.

[georgeb]

You don't need to remove or disable anything. Just make sure they are not on for the test.

[KJ4YXY]

You don't need to remove or disable anything. Just make sure they are not on for the test.

I understand but I do not want them to work at all anytime due to my lack of needing them.

[georgeb]

The coil won't make the battery drain.

[KJ4YXY]

The coil won't make the battery drain.

HMMM well, Im not sure.

[Movin]

Jeez..mothers day dinner!!! George is absolutely right about those things. You did
ask about disabling and really all you would have to do is insure the bulbs do not
light, the bulbs are easy to remove.
If you see a 2 to 3 amp draw something is left on. If you see something
less than 500 milliamps ...like 20 to 50 milliamps you likely have a battery
that has already performed it best and is heading permanently south.

There may be some guys on here that would appreciate your photography skills
and the fact that you have a fairly complete and original vacuum system.

With what you have we can test the battery. After the battery is fully charged hook
you meter, now turned to DC volts across the battery to read 12.8 volts or what ever.
Place the meter where you can read it while cranking.

Ground the tower of your coil so that the sparks have some where to go and will
not smoke the transistors in your ignition module.

Crank the engine for 15 seconds while watching the meter. If at any time the voltage
drops below 9.5 volts your battery is done and not up to specs. If the voltage drops
really quick feel the cables for heat, you may need to test the starter. If they are
cool a new battery would perform much better. If they are warm, your battery is
suppyling power and your starter may be done. You can take either one or both
to town and get a test done for free at a parts store like AZ to verify your findings.