1988 Chevy Camaro battery drain

Here is a list of things for a battery drain 1. Trunk, hood, or interior light or glove box light that is staying on when the engine is OFF

2. Aftermarket radios, CD players, amplifiers, cell phone chargers etc. Etc. Are notorious for drains

3. Electric seat motors and electric antennae motors that are stuck in the ON position

4. Relays or components under the hood that are ON or running with the engine OFF - for instance electric cooling fan motors, anti lock brake pump motors, air ride suspension pump motors.

When you turn your key off there can still be current drains from your battery. Normally these are very small: computer, vehicle antitheft, etc. Some vehicles run an engine cooling fan if the engine compartment gets hot enough AFTER you turn the engine off. This CAN cause a battery problem. The car will start up fine for weeks, then one hot day it will be dead in the parking lot at 5:00 when the owner is ready to go home. Dome lights which stick on, and the REALLY elusive trunk or hood light staying on can discharge batteries overnight and puzzle owners (and sometimes mechanics!)

To test for a parasitic drain, disconnect the battery ground cable. Put a 12 volt test light between the negative post on the battery and the negative battery cable. Make sure all the doors are closed and the hood light is off (if it has one). The test light should be off. If there's enough current to light the test light, there is enough draw to discharge the battery overnight. (Computer note: if the light is on but dim, try touching the negative terminal to the battery post briefly: if the light goes off you are probably OK )