Expert: Roger J.M. Warrington - 6/5/2005

Question
I have as stated, a 1994 Chevy Cavalier RS Converible.  The car has been running great with no problems.  The top need to be replaced, so I took it off the road for the winter and had the top replaced.  When I got the car back this spring, I went to start it and it won't start.  The repair shop replaced the battery and it started.  I took the car home and it sat for a few days, and when I went to start it it wouldn't start.  I jumped the batterey and it started immediately.  I let the car set for another a few hours and tried to start the car and it wouldn't start.  I took the car to Sears Automotive and bought a new battery and had the charging system checked.  They said the charging system appears to be OK.  I took the car home and drove it for the day and everything seem OK.  The next day when I went to start the car, it was dead, no lights, no clicking, no anything.  I started jumped started the battery again and the car started right away.  I drove the car for the day and then let it sit over night.  The next day I tried to start the car again and no nothing, no lights, no clicking from the starter or anything.  I jumped the battery again and the car started.  I know I must have a short in the electrical system somewhere.  Can you give me some hints where I might be able to look for the problem?  I don't believe it has anything to do with replacing the top, but maybe?  I figure if the motor was shorted out, the switch to raise and lower the top would protect any power drainage, maybe I'm all wet.  Any help you can give would be appreciated.

Les


Answer
hea Les;
        Well as long as the car will run once started , you have a drain someplace, try and find the ( fuse) for the tops power and remove the fuse so the top will not work, than start the car and see if it will hold the charge if yes I would take the car right back where the top was fixed.You have some thing shorting-grounding out someplace and the first place that I would look is the tops work where the elect. was repaired.OK  good luck
RJM.W