4KSQ -- Electric prob.

["Richard Haroutunian" <Richard_Haroutunian@inso.com>]

My 4KSQ is getting old.  The car has been fantastic, it handles awesome --
but there's a new electrical problem I need some help with.

Recently, there has been a huge electrical draw coming from somewhere that
keeps killing the battery.  It only takes a few hours and the battery dies.
I took it back to where I had the starter done (because I could not get the
corroded bolts off) and the alt. wires were replaced at the time.  Slowly,
the car started to lose electrical power over the past 60 days.

Within the last 2 weeks, the draw increased -- ut since my girlfriend
drives the car daily, the battery kept charging back up..  WE went away
last weekend for 4 days and the battery was dead when we returned.  Ever
since, the battery won't stay charged for more than a few hours.

The dealer (starter., alt was done there) said that the draw is coming from
the circuit that has the interior lights, lighter, and radio.  The draw
stops when the fuse is pulled.  There is an after market Alpine cassette
deck in the car, and they said it may have something to do with the deck.
I told them to pull the fuse and that I would figure out because they were
gonna charge me by the hour to figure it out -- and I know I'll get the
answer from the list in less than 10 minutes.


Help.  Here are a few clues that may have to something to do with the draw:

   the power antennae is broken and was snapped off recently (3 mos ago)
   the alt wires were replaced -- the red one was frayed and wasn't
   recharging the battery.
   the radio is an alpine pull-out deck and it can be turned on with the
   car off (normal)
   passenger side window doesn't open
   I had to pull the bulb from the trunk light because it used to stay on
   and kill the battery (long time ago)


That's all O can think of right now, but this problem is right out of left
field.  There weren't any major signs leading up to it.  Is it the radio?

TIA,

Richard
87 5KCS TQ
85 4KS Q
82 VW Cabrio