Chrysler Repair: Battery discharges overnight, chrysler service, fuse box

Question
My sister has a 95 cirrus with the v6 and the battery will not stay charged over night. The alternator has been changed out twice now (just to be sure the first purchased one was not bad) and the battery has been replaced. All fuses have been checked and they are all good. Also if you jump the car to start it the rpm gauge will not work, but did for a short when first put on alternator. Any ideas

Answer
Hi Aaron,
I don't think your problem is the charnging circuit, but more likely somewhere else in the operating-side of the electrical circuit.
I suspect that some component powered by the fuse which provides power to various items needed when the car is not in use,  like the courtesy lights and the computers, is being left "on" when you think it is off, or is shorted to ground (the - post of the battery). The most likely components are the glove box lamp or the trunk lamp as those are not obvious when they are falsely '0n'. If the glove box light is indeed going off when you close it, then I would suspect the trunk light which you may not be able to tell unless you get in the trunk while a trusted helper is sure to open it to let you out! If those both seem to be going out, then we have to look further at other possibilities.
If you want to do this troubleshoot scientifically you would want to have an ohmmeter/ammeter or just an ohmmeter even will do it. The 'ignition off draw (IOD)' fuse in question is #5 in the under-dash fuse box. If you pulled that fuse you will probably not have the overnight discharging problem, but that is not a solution.
Let me know what kind of a meter you have to work with. Ideally it would be a digital readout meter if it is only an ohmmeter, but an analog (dial) type meter will work if you have the ammeter function.
Roland
PS Here is the trouble-shoot procedure from the Chrysler Service Manual:
BATTERY IGNITION OFF DRAW (IOD) MEASUREMENT
High current draw on the battery with the ignition OFF will discharge a battery. After a dead battery is serviced the vehicle Ignition Off Draw (IOD) should be checked. Determine if a high current draw condition exists first check the vehicle with a milliampere meter.

Verify that all electrical accessories are OFF.
Remove key from ignition switch
Turn off all lights
Trunk lid and glove box door is closed
Sun visor vanity lights are OFF
All doors are closed
Allow the Illuminated Entry System to time out in approximately 30 seconds, if equipped.
During Transmission Control Module (TCM) power down there will be 500 milliamperes present for 20 minutes. Afterwards less than 1.0 milliampere.
Disconnect battery negative cable
CAUTION: Always disconnect the milliampere meter before opening a door.

Using an multi-meter, that has least a milliampere range of 200 mA. Set meter to the highest mA range. Install meter between the battery negative cable and battery negative post. After all modules time-out the total vehicle IOD should be less than 25 milliamperes. If ignition off draw is more than 25 milliamperes go to Step 4.
Each time the milliampere meter is disconnected and connected, all electronic timer functions will be activated for approximately one minute. The Body Control Module (BCM) ignition off draw can reach 90 milliamperes.
Remove the PDC fuses:
Interior lamps
Brake lamp
IOD
If there is any reading, with fuses removed there is a short circuit in the wiring. Refer to wiring diagrams. Repair as necessary. If reading is less than 25 mA go to Step 8.
Install all fuses. After installing fuse, the current can reach 90 mA. After time-out the reading should not exceed 25 mA. If OK go to Step 9. If not, disconnect:
Radio
Body control module
Remote keyless entry module
Disconnect one component at time, to see if any component is at fault. If the high reading is not eliminated there is a short circuit in the wiring. Refer to for wiring diagrams and circuit information.
Remove interior and brake lamp fuses. Install the fuses. The milliampere reading should be 2-4 mA. If reading is higher than 4 mA:
Disconnect PCM.
If reading is OK, replace PCM.
If reading does not change, disconnect the TCM.
If reading is OK, replace TCM.
If reading stays, there is a short circuit to one of the modules. Refer to Wiring Diagrams.