Chrysler Repair: 85 Chrysler New Yorker, volt ohm meter, chrysler new yorker

Question
The battery keeps draining-even when I am driving.  I have a new battery and just had the alternator checked.  Both good.  When I am driving for at least twenty minutes or more, my battery indicator light starts to flash on, and I notice the engine runs rougher.  This is accelerated when I put the blower motor on high or use the headlights. The dash lights weren't working and now they do?  Coincidense?

Answer
Hi Gus,
I hope everything worked out with the battery drain problem. Please let me know by using the 'thank/rate' tab below.
While you are there, if I might ask a favor: where it asks about a 'nomination for expert of the month' I would appreciate your entering a 'yes'. I am in a close race for that honor so every vote counts!
Roland


History:
Hi Gus,
I think you have a short somewhere in the wiring or a component is staying energized when it shouldn't be. Here is how I responded to a similar question:
"The best way to find what is causing the draining is to obtain a volt-ohm meter at an electronics store or an auto parts store, or borrow one from a friend. (You can for a little more money use a meter that also measures current, amps, and use it the same way as I will now describe except you will be trying to find fuses that when removed reduce the reading (less current flow) on the dial). You should be able to get one for under $20. Then you disconnect the clamp from the "-" or "neg" post of the battery, then remove the "+" or "pos" clamp. Then put the two test leads of the meter on the two clamps (one lead on each clamp) with the meter set to read ohms. It should read something less than infinite, but you would like it to read more that 100 ohms and ideally much more ohms than that, which would mean there was no source draining away the charge. If instead you find that it reads only 5 or 10 ohms that means there is a component that is draining the battery. (If you intend to measure current, then the battery needs to be in play so you would just remove one battery clamp (the - post one) and insert the leads of the amp meter between the clamp and post that you have disconnected the clamp from).
The procedure to find out the drain source is to disconnect each of the fuses ( If there is no change in the reading of the meter, then replace the fuse and move to the next one in the distribution center box and see if it causes an increased reading, etc. When you find one (or more) such fuses that when removed caused the reading of the meter to go up significantly, then look for the label on the fuse box for that fuse, put the fuse back so that the reading decreases again.
Then if the fuse isn't labelled as to its purpose write me back and I can tell you which circuits and we will begin to unplug each of the electrical items that are powered by that fuse and keep checking until you find the item that causes the reading to go up again. That is the faulty component that is causing your problem.
You will want to do these tests with all the doors closed so that no lights are "on" and the car is sitting just as it is when you have it shut down. Be careful not to change anything about the car doors/lights (always close the doors before reading the meter) while you are doing this testing or none of it will make any sense.
This is something you can do yourself and save labor costs by so doing. If you find a fuse that when removed causes the reading to rise significantly, tell me what the number of that fuse is and I will tell you what to do then to solve that problem specifically (how to unplug the suspected faulty item).
Whenever you go to reconnect the battery, always put the + post clamp back on first, then put on the - post clamp. The reverse is true when you disconnect the battery (as I described to you at the start). It is done that way for safety so you don't accidentally short the battery and get a burn.
You can get back to me via the "thank and rate" tab at the bottom of this message if I am listed as being 'maxed out'."
Once we find the cause of the drain and fix that I suspect the other issues will resolve themselves. The '85 wiring diagrams total to 163 pages, so let us work together on this. Please use the "thank and rate" tab below to communicate and I will get back to you promptly. While there if you notice the question about a 'nomination as expert of the month" and would enter a 'yes' I would be most appreciative. Thanks in advance.
Roland