my son's non-vw car developed a battery problem this week. battery went dead, so we checked the voltage while cranking and it dropped to about 4 volts.
well, battery has given up the ghost. so he replaces the battery, after charging and it goes dead in about half an hour. charge it up again, car starts and goes dead again.
now, we are pulling fuses and checking for voltage across the fuse base for a voltage draw. came up with nothing of importance. during this testing he notices that the interior lights dimmed to nothing. now i'm thinking that there is a big draw to ground, but through a load, without frying any wires. if the alternater went bad, AND shorted to ground, that would explain the large, yet regulated draw on the battery. remove the alternater and have it tested, it's bad. replace it, problem goes away. the alternater must have fried, gone to ground through the windings which gave it a "controlled" short on the battery. this is what i figgered must have happened.
anyone have a better explanation?????