Re: Help!, 5000s w/dead batteries

[Wm Stott Hare <stott@ccs.neu.edu>]

Carl,
   My experience isn't with the 5000's but with a VW.  However, with that
disclaimer, I had very similar problems...  After about three or four
battery replacements (paid for by Sears because I had first purchased a
Die Hard with the year warranty etc.) I began to get annoyed.  The symptoms
were similar.  I would get maybe three weeks out of a battery before it died.
And I checked everything. The first time, Sears diagnostic computers said Bad
battery.  No reason why was found.  So they replaced it.  The next time, it
said bad voltage regulator, so I replaced it, and they replaced the battery.
The final time before I getting some results, they said it probably was a bad
alternator. So I replaced the alternator, and the same thing happened. Sears 
checked it one last time, and said "definitely a bad alternator".  I had both 
alternators checked at this point and they both tested out fine.  I was
thoroughly confused, moderately PO'd, and had had about all the free
batteries that Sears was willing to give me...
   What I finally ended up doing after some help from r.a.vw was add a ground
strap between the alternator, the motor, and the body.  It seemed that although
the alternator was operating fine, because of a bad ground, the battery wasn't
seeing all the life sustaining current it needed.  Thus the battery was being
drained each time the car was used, until it gave up the ghost.  Now thing are
better with my charging system, so like most vw/audi owners, I have moved on
to the next problem....
   Hope this sheds some possibilities on your problems. Best of luck.
Stott