Hey Guys -

I don't drive my 85 very much at all, but it seems that the battery is constantly dead. I know I'm not leaving the interior light on, so what could be drawing on the battery when it's sitting? Certainly the clock and/or clock in the stereo couldn't be drawing that much.
I even replaced the battery with a new one a few months ago.
Could the alternator not be up to snuff on the thing?

Also, the terminal on the positive battery cable is busted. I would normally just cut it off, then install a new terminal, but if I do that, then the cable is just a bit too short to reach the terminal on the battery. I would pry off the existing terminal so I won't have to cut the cable, but I don't know what the hell to pry off the crimped-on connector with.

Ideas?

Jack

Can't help with the dead battery.

The cable end could be replaced with marine type clamp and end, giving you back some of the cut-distance lost.

I can let my 87 sit in the winter for easily over a month and it will still start.

If you put a meter to the battery, it should show the draw from the load that is happening. Then start pulling/replacing fuses one by one until the load drops. At that point, you know which circuit it is and can hone in from there.

A short/open circuit some were?

replace the cable and terminal connector... i dont know why, but having a bad cable or connector to the battery just saps power. i dont know where the power goes, it just goes. could very well be a bad alternator, just run it to your local autoparts chain store and have the charging system checked. or dont do any of this and just disconnect the negitive when it sits, then its just up to the battery to hold its charge while it sits. imho, not a great idea to let any rig sit... it completely wrecks havoc on so much and the batteries charge is the least of it. at a minimum it should be started and ran for atleast a little while at operating temp, even better if you can take it for a short drive.