When i hook up a DMM from the positive battery cable to the negative (with battery disconnected) i get 2.0 on the 200 ohm scale for resistance(not sure if that means 2*200 or 2/100*200 or just 2) between the two, with no resistance from the positive to the alternator. my question is, 1. should there be a closed circuit from the battery to the starter to the battery when the key is out? 2. if so, is this amount of resistance a problem? I dont have anywhere i can jack the car up or anything(im staying in dorms at college) to look at the starter wiring and stuff, so i kinda want to get this figured out before i pay some shop lots of money to maybe not even solve the right problem. The problem is that my battery drains/doesnt recharge at a quite rapid rate, so im wondering if either the starter is draining it constantly or the resistance is preventing a charge and every time i crank it is just nukes the battery.

 

There should be MUCH higher resistance than that.

I'd suggest disconnecting things until you find where the current is going.

My guess is going to be, the alternator. If you disconnect its big red wire and the resistance goes WAY up, then ..... bingo.

Incidentally, make sure you have the + DMM lead on the positive cable, and the - lead on the ground one.

As far as your last sentence about what you're "wondering", neither of those things is true. They are not consistent with the behavior of electricity. Don't worry about stuff like that. Just find the drain.

 

on the 200ohm scale, 2 means 2. If you can, go to the 20 ohm scale, it should still show 2.

ps. your sig is very weird.

 

E=IR, if resistance is raised at a constant voltage current drops . . . right? oh well, ill go have a look at the alt. its a newish duralast gold, so it should be good, but i know better than to count on that.

i disconnect the battery every time i shut it down, but it still drains within a few starts. maybe i should just take the alt in, it has a llt warranty so i should be able to just get a new one. im gonna go check that now.

 

with the alt wire disconnected resistance remains the same at 1.9-2.0 ohms . . . a short down by the starter or a solenoid problem? or theres a relay under the drivers dash, right? I cant get under the car, so i guess ill try that first tomorrow.