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electrical system drains
many years of professional auto repair have taught me some things that novice alfa owners should abide by...
1. perform an in depth battery performance test. test battery load,check water level, check variences in cell readings, and above all check charging rates. a common rule of thumb states that if a battery requires more than 15.5 volts to charge the battery should be replaced. i have brought back a few batteries but not enough to call it a fix. before any other determination of an electrical system problem can be diagnosed a good battery must be present.
2. perform an in depth diagnosis of the charging system, including load testing to alternator maximum output, diode integrity(shorts). a screw driver held near the armature while running is'nt good enough.
after these two items are put in order the a problem, if it still exists, can be diagnosed.
electrical draws are measured in milli-amps. usually thirty or less is normal. pulling a clock fuse and watching a voltmeter is inaccurate at best and anyone who says different simply does'nt know what they are talking about.
ALWAYS take care of basics first. this will cure seventy percent of all electrical gremlins. for the rest of you, clean all connections and grounding points and continue with the diagnoses. alfabill
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