cj killing my batteries

[shortxjdoug]

hey i thought someone here might have a clue but my stock 83 cj-7 has eaten 2 batteries. i'm not very good with electrical does anybody know where the best place to start looking is? its an 83 with a 4.2 and i already checked and tightened the terminals.

 

[70cj5]

Is it draining them or are the barreries going bad? Have the alternator tested first for to many volts if they are going bad. And if it is draing them put a amp (might be volt setting but I think it is amp) meter on the battery to see the draw and start taking out fuses (One at a time) till there is no draw on the battery. The fuse that is out when the draw is gone is the system that has the short. The the fun part finding the problem within it. Unplug the things in that system till the draw goes away or replace everything in that system.

Could be cheep batteries too. Had a buddy get 3 in a row bad sraight out of the box. Might have the battery tested before u buy it.

 

[RichP]

YOu can use a meter, 12v inline light or buzzer. remove one terminal from the battery and stick the tester of you choice between. Key off doors closed, if the light is on then you have a short somewhere, start pulling one fuse at a time, when the light goes out you found the ckt that has the short. Then the real work starts, finding out what, in the CJ's it's usually a gauge or headlight switch from my expirence.