Chrysler Repair: engine keeps cutting off: 2.5 V-6, digital ohmmeter, battery clamps


Question
97 Chrysler seab conv.  It would cut off come back on but now its dead completely.  Charged the batt it stayed on for 10 mins and was completely dead again.  It would cut off while driving.  None of the lights came on indicating a problem with the engine, or battery.  The oil light never came on either. Right now the battery is completely dead again and the only thing I did after charging it was put the top up and roll up the windows and let it run for about 10 mins.

Answer
Hi Darlene,
I sent you another answer a couple of days ago but it appears you didn't know or didn't read it. So take a look at that now, below.  It appears to me that you have a short circuit that is discharging the battery and thereby killing the engine. If you can buy or borrow a digital ohmmeter we can do some measurements to find out where the short is located. Let me know if you want to do that or not.
Roland

"Hi Darlene,
You are welcome. I didn't understand that when you said it cut off that it might be the battery failing, since you just replaced it. I wonder if one of the clamps on the battery might be loose, so you might check that by hand. It should not discharge so badly if it is new, unless there was a great deal of attempted starting with no success or possibly there is a short circuit that is draining off the battery charge while it sits (perhaps the trunk light or the glove box light or an underhood light is staying on?). I would be inclined to disconnect the battery clamps and then put the battery charger on the battery overnight or even for a day to be sure to get the battery charged. Then try for the fault codes. Then try to start it if you need to go to a shop or Autozone to get the code readout if the check engine light doesn't work. While driving make sure that the light that has the symbol of the battery above the speedometer is not illuminated (which would be a sign of a charging problem, such as the alternator or its wires or the computer that controls that process). If it is 'on' brightly it may be there is a short that will drain the battery quickly.
In removing the battery clamps, always begin by un-bolting the clamp that is on the - post, then the + post. And when re-attaching, do the + post first, then finish by attaching the - post.
Roland
PS Feel free to use the 'thank/rate' to get back. And thank you for the evaluation and nomination."