Electrical problem
2002 Other Mazda Models 4 cyl Front Wheel Drive Manual 194000 miles
----------------------------------------------------------------
Please help with this frustrating problem:
Our Mazda Etude 1.6i is very ill - the problem started around December when she just wasn't starting, the ignition just clicked but there was no turn in the motor. We replaced the battery (Which we discovered had a few dead cells) after which the problem persisted so we had the altenator looked at, it was faulty & was not charging the battery, we had this repaired yet results were that it was only charging on high revs. We have sinced replaced the altenator with a new one from the agents on Friday & had the charge rate tested at the same time - all was as it should be.
However when we climbed in the car to come to work this morning (Monday) she would not start and we had to push her down the driveway. We suspect that something is drawing power when she is off but we are lost for places to look.
Please help before I drive her into the ocean!!!!

Battery drain test-

Get a test light and disconnect the negative battery cable now put the light between the cable and battery negative post is the light On? If so start removing fuses one at a time -the fuse that turns off the light is the trouble circuit. Then break out the electrical wiring diagram.

In the event you removed all the fuses and the light is still On disconnect the alternator batt. feed and the connector-if this one turns off the light-the alternator has bad diodes.