So the windshield wiper motor was replaced an worked. Next morning, go to start it up, and it does the weird lock thing again. This time, no joy after trying to turn the key again.

Its not the normal.....click, click, click type of thing when the battery dies, but almost like the whole motor is seized up. Im sure its not that, as it just fired up the last time. I havent got to check to see if battery is bad, but its certainly dead at this point.

My question is, is there a known or possible ignition problem that would cause a short that would cause an immediate battery drain, or is this likely just the case of battery and windsield wiper motor going bad at the same time?

I will try to jump it first, and thought I would test battery voltage after it sits and then while running to check alternator.

 

Sounds more like a grounding problem than a coincidence.

 

Yea, go over it with a multimeter and check it both off and while its running. See if you have any vampire loads while the car is off.

 

Problem found, owner is an idiot. groan. lol.

 

post fix please

 

Need a laugh aye?

Well, after checking all the fuses again, and poking and prodding at the new windshield wiper motor, and fiddling with the ignition, I go buy another battery, to eliminate one possible issue. Pouring down rain, car is on street, so I pop the hood, open up my socket kit and look at the battery terminals to guess socket size. As I glance at the negative terminal, I see the bolt isnt even tightened down, grab it, it jiggles, I groan to myself at my own stupidity. Tighten it down, go turn the key, starts right up. So after all this, it was the simplist thing, that I was shown to check by my dad first, 35 years ago.

Im getting dumber by the day I think.

 

Hah you probly tightend it down, then someone came along while you wernt lookin and loosened it as a joke ......

It happens