EZee

For about the last 2 weeks, my battery has been going dead overnight. The battery is pretty new and tests good. Alternator is charging properly. Is there a particular system or component I should be looking at? Not sure if it's related or not, but my windshield washer fluid light is on with a full reservoir.

rogerz

get a cheap ammeter at auto parts.hook it up in series with battery terminal and cable. not really matter about polarity as they go either way usually. If you get no significant movement of the needle then you know it would be safe to test with your vom. Get a cheap analog if you don't have one. Now you use the vom in series (amps scale) with a battery post and its associated cable. Polarity now matters so just touch it lightly to see if the needle is defecting in the correct direction. You should now see an amp drain on the meter and hook it up where you can see it or get a buddy, wife unit what have you to watch the meter. pull fuses one at a time until the drain goes away (if you have two problem circuits you should note a drop when you pull that fuse). once you locate the problem circuit the fun begins. start looking for busted wires, worn insulation etc.
If this procedure means nothing to you walk slowly away from the car and call a knowledgeable person because you should not do anything electrical until you take a basic course in how electricity works.

EZee

Thanks Rogerz. Makes perfect sense. Sounds like a good afternoon project!