Hello Guys, You may have seen recenlty that i have been having what i thought to be extensive electrical problems. To recap 1-My St183 Jap import was getting flat battery very fast (1-2 days) 2-Decided to check it our my self using the Haynes Manual 3-Did the light test between disconneted -ve battery post and body and it lit up. WITH ALL FUSES DISCONNECTED 4-I decided to take it too mechianic who ended up chaign the alternator. 5- worked ok for about a week then puff!!! the 100 amp fuse blew. 6- had enough so decided to call auto electrician who specialises in Alternators circuits. 7- he took one quick look under the bonnet saw a new alternator with an OLD audio noise supressor. 8- disconnected the alternator cables. 9- he then took a wire from the +ve battery post and quickly tapped the alternator's power output connection. (this is the point from which power is fed to the battery to keep it charged up this should be ISOLATED from the rest of the alternator body and parts) 10- of course sparks flew when he tapped this which indicated that this output was fused/shorted to the rest of the alternator body which is attached tot eh engine bock and therefore grounded. 11- conclusion the new alternator had shorted out cause of the old noise supressor. 12- so i dediced to get him to install a new alternator with 12MONTHE APRTS AND LABOUR warranty. sweet!!!!! Now i could have done this all my self in the first place but what threw me off the sent of the alternator was the light test. I.e with ALL fuses taken out the light still came on when i placed it between the disconnected -ve post and the body? Where woudl the power be coming from???????????? Cost break down ?255 from original garage to check for short and replace new alrternator ?160 from local auto electrical specialist to replace new alternator? total costs ?415 - becuase of the frikkin light test. So what am i missing here..??????? i know the light test is a valid test but where is that power coming from??????? will this ever be answered or will it remain one of those mysteries??????????? regards to you all GTI DRIVER

Did you remove the fuses in all 3 locations?

light test shows a difference in potential only place it can come from is whatever wires are connected from the positive to where the fuses are stuated. there must have been a short, or low resistance path between these points, either thru a component or the actual wire itself rubbing somewhere, or even the fuse holder.

Yes I BELIEVE so. But what woudl be another way to check would be to check the drain on the battery ..do any oe have the figures for dain???????

I'd reckon a couple of milliamps with the ignition off and all the fuses in place.

alistair,, thanks , as usual i am indebted to you....i will check it our tonight:) regards GTI DRIVER