Running a quick errand, I shut down my car and left the hazard lights on for about 10 minutes. When I got back, the car wouldn't start. The lights, radio and other accessories would work, but the battery was pretty much drained, as the clock and all my radio presets were erased.After about 15 minutes, there was enough juice to start the car. It works fine since then.

What could be causing this extreme battery drain? This is the second time in a month this has happened.

I do have an aftermarket alarm, but it has been acting fine. Also, the lights behind the HVAC controls went out recently. Could this be causing this problem?

 

is there the right amount of water in the battery?

 

Check that the connections of the big cables under the hood are secure, especially right at the battery terminals. If you have a voltmeter you can do some more advanced testing.

The heater panel lights probably don't have anything to do with it, but light bulbs blowing out could mean that your electrical system has an overvoltage problem.

 

im sure if you get the battery tested they can tell if the battery has failed often in cold weather. i just had to replace my battery in my 94 sedan

 

I think I have narrowed it down to the Clifford security system. When I remove the 5 and 15 amp fuses for the alarm, and then wait about five minutes, the car starts perfectly. The fuses aren't blown.

I think the lights are unrelated. I banged on the dashboard and the lights came back on.

Could putting the fuses in the wrong slots (eg, the 5 into the 15 slot) cause a battery drain like this?

The alarm has been working great for 14 years! Unfortunately, Clifford was bought out and the new company, DEI, no longer honors the lifetime warranty.