[quote=demon]Working on a 78 Chrysler LeBaron. It's a low mileage car, absolutely stock and untouched, other than it has had an electronic ignition conversion to eliminate the Lean burn system.
So the issue is:
The battery will go dead in a day or so.
Brand new battery.
I pulled off the negative cable, and put a test light between the negative battery post, and the negative cable. The test light is bright.
You can't check voltage drain like that. The minute you put the leads on the post and cable it completed the circuit through the light bulb. It'll read 12 volts too if you use a meter hooked up that way. You need to check for amps.
Of course you can. Inserting the light bulb between the battery and the cable completes nothing. It simply extended the cable. There still has to be a completed circuit between the two battery cables to light the bulb and that's what you are looking for, what is completing the circuit. As to volts vs. current, a voltmeter/test lamp/light bulb will show that there is a drain but you do need an ammeter to determine the magnitude of the drain.
