94 LX Wagon Charging Issue

[hagendas]

I've got a 1994 Escort LX Wagon that will not hold an electrical charge on the battery. When I jumper the battery to start the car the battery charges fine. However after a few days the battery is dead from a short somewhere in the electrical system.

I've performed a battery drain test but all the circuits on the interior fuse box check out. I've had the alternator verified to be good at the local AutoZone. I verified the continuity of the alternator's wiring harness. I don' t have any cabin or exterior lights left on, including under the hood. Both the 'original' battery I had when I discovered the problem and a new battery have been drained by this unidentifiable current drain on my system.

I'm using a HAYNES REPAIR MANUAL to guide my troubleshooting efforts and haven't found anything under the electrical troubleshooting sections. Anyone got any ideas on what to check next before I take it to the local garage?

[hagendas]

Took the battery to AutoZone and they did some testing on the battery. Turns out one of the cells was bad (aaggghhhh!). Since it was less than a year old they replaced it free of charge.