Electrical people, need help finding a short

[Yorb]

My battery started draining real fast a week ago, and the only way I can get it to stop is to disconnect the underbody lights I put on a month or so ago. So, obviously that circuit is drawing power somehow. I don't know if it's shorted to ground or what the heck is going on, so that's where you guys come in. =/ I have a digital multimeter, I'm just not sure how to find this.

And yes, I've visually inspected the length of wire that I can see, and I don't want to start pulling up carpet until I know I have to.

Wiring schematic in words: Battery positive to inline fuse, to switch (drains even when its off), to all 4 lights. All 4 lights ground to battery negative (on one circuit).

Thanks. =)

[mss5413]

You can hook up the multimeter in series with the battery ground. You will need to disconnect the negative terminal and connect the positive probe to the (wire) terminal and the negative probe to the negative (battery) terminal. I believe that their should be no more than a 15 ma load to the battery. You will have to check this with your ammeter or your multimeter. While the meter is connected, check your current load, also if you hook up a small flashlight bulb somewhere between the wire terminal and the battery terminal the bulb "should not" light up. If it does, then it is showing too much of a load. While your testing equipment is hooked up, you can pull fuses to see which disconnected fuse brings the load down to normal. This is just a start. Let us know what you find out. Good Luck

[Cygnus_X_1]

i feel for you man...electrical sucks big time...i just finished finding the drain on my system after owning the car for about 2 months, 2 starters, 2 altenators, and a new optima red top....

ends up being the person i bought the car from did a hatchet job wiring then removing his gear before selling the car. had to trace the engine harness, remove tons of 'aftermarket' wiring to nowhere, and do the same to the body harness...

what a PITA...but i finally fixed it today, and now i can start wiring in my electrical (fans, alarm, remote start, etc...)

good luck to you...