Put an incandescent test light in between a removed negative battery cable and the negative battery terminal. Pull fuses one at a time until the light goes out. That will tell you which circuit is causing the draw.

vwnate1

The clock never worked from the time we got the car a year ago. Since an non-working clock doesn't draw juice, does it simply create a short?

Where is Sunny So?

Yes, it can and since it doesn't work that'd be the first place I'd check .

Not all shorts are dead ~ a dead short will pop the fuse/circuit breaker or melt wires, a partial short will draw a few milliamperes of current, drain the battery and have you pulling your hair out trying to find it .

First test is to put a test lamo between the negative post of the battery and the chassis, if that causes the lamp to glow you're on it .

if not, try a V.O.M. set to as high a milliamp range as is has and try again ~ you'll prolly find a tiny draw that won't show up with a light bulb .

Sunny So. Cal. is the Southern half of California, the land of Fruits, Nuts and Flakes .

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

Are you near LA?

Yes but ;

I'm crippled and retired ~ I can barely keep up with my own vehicles anymore .

I know two good Mercedes Indie. Mechanics in Pasadena but I don't think either one likes this sort of job .

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

Sorry to hear about any infirmity you have.

Your advice has been most useful, and the part about the clock very intriguing.

Thank you very much

First and foremost, my free advice is worth far less than you paid for it, always double or triple check before using it .

Don't worry abut me, my sad & pathetic life story sounds bad but I'm doing just fine and having the whale of a good time .

I still work on my oldies (I don't own any moderns) and ride my Motocycle etc., etc. .

Just keep asking around, sooner or later you'll find one of us who cannot stand an un answered question .

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better