Thanks again for the help with my electrical problems. I have the fuses out for the clock/lighter and interior lights and the test light and meter test show I'm not getting any more draw. I've finally had a chance to really work on my car for the past few days since we're basically done with my mom's car.

While my car is insured and registered I don't get to drive it around much, I've probably put less than 50 miles on it since I've got it. Just today though I pulled my car into the driveway for body work and just about when it became sunset I cleaned up and was going to move it out of the way. I turned the key and the engine kicked over once and then the starter just clicked. So I tried again but this time all the lights on the dash go out. So I take a meter and check the stats on the battery. It was completely dead, no amps no nothing.

So what my question is is whether or not not driving it is affecting this. Because I know with my dad's harley if he just putters around town for a month the battery will be dead because as a shop keeper told him, it's not putting enough miles on it to be letting alternator charge the battery. But if he takes it out for a few serious cruises the battery will be fine.

I'm going into the electrical shop in town first thing in the morning to have the alternator tested but I'm just wanting to know what you guys think about this.

I wasn't following the earlier posts, but this sounds like a weak battery. For an alternator test right now, all you need is a voltmeter. Check the voltage at the battery with the car off. It should be about 12 volts or less. Start the car and check it again at a high idle. It should be well above that, between 13.5 and 14 volts. This indicated the alternator is putting out.

A tired battery can give a lot of service if it is used regularily. But if it sits a lot and is not charged, it can go dead in ever shortening periods of time.

Good luck,

Well this is a new battery, since it was one of a few things I had to out right buy a new one because the previous owner did something dumb with it. (Like having the starter on his porch for 3 months and he gave me a box of crusted odds and ends that used to be one). I'm going to go out right now and try that little test. And for good measure I guess I'll still go into town anyway.

Alas all of this testing and battery charging goes to no avail. I never want to think of problems under the car because my car has been lowered and to get it on a stand requires jacking it up almost to the end of the jack's reach and doing that tilts the jack more and more off center because it's lifting one side up.

So I finally just did it and checked the positive connection and to find out that it's slightly loose, enough to move it with some force but still on there pretty tight. Well I tighten it up and the beaast fires up first try.

At least nothing is broken. It's really hard to restore a car with a 19 year olds college budget.

Good work, now replace the cigarette lighter socket and you can probably get your interior lights back.