Last night was the first time I left the battery connected since my rebuild and this morning it was dead as a doornail. Where do I start to diagnose?

 

Check for any lights that may have been left on. Glove box, courtesy, trunk, under hood, etc. Was the key left on? Headlights?

 

ive got a new battery and it always dies, but the only thing going is the clock...does this sound normal?

 

do your cars come with trunk or underhood lights? i dont think mine has either.....???? i dont have a glove box light but i think thats the one hanging down from under the dash that dosent work......

 

Yeah, you have a glove box light. Does it have a bulb in it, and is the switch pushed in while the door is closed? A clock won't drain that much power.

 

I had a pretty much drained battery but it worked for awhile. The overhead lights were left on and it killed it. We took it out and noticed that I had two negative cables on the car, which helped cause the problem.

 

How do you have 2 negative cables?

 

probably just two negative cables bought. They still hook up the right way and everything. But instead of a red one, it's black.

 

Most likely your garage is haunted and the ghost is stealing the energy from your battery.

 

After checking for things left on, charge your battery completely and have it tested. Then the following test should get you dialed in:

You can use a test light or Amp meter in series between the negative battery terminal and the post. Disconnect the negative cable put the aligator clip on the post, and the probe on the cable. If you use an amp gauge the negative lead goes on the battery post and the positive lead goes on the cable. You want less than 0.2A draw. A test light will start to dim out below about 0.20A depending on the light. With the amp gauge or test light hooked up as per above start disconnecting one item at a time. I'd start first with the alternator wires, If no change reconnect the alt wires then the disconnect the regulator, then go for the fuses. Then the non-fused circuits.

Good luck,

Scott