SHORT? in 2002 Escalade

Neewbee HonestOly here. Noticed there are some sharp mechanically minded individuals in this forum. Could use some help if yer not too busy. The battery goes dead in an hour. Load tested the optima battery and it is good. Disconnected the positive cable from the battery, switched the DMM to 10A DC and put it in line per this forum, (red lead on post, blk on cable). When placing the blk lead on the cable, it sparked and the readout read 0.00. I switched to volt meter to check the DMM across the battery posts to confirm the fuse in the DMM didn't blow (it didn't). I took a continuity light from + post to +cable and it lit up. Clamping it in place to remain lit, I removed all fuses and relays one by one to get the light to shut off- no luck. Put the + lead back on the battery, removed the neg lead and put the DMM in line with the neg side and it reads -072 on the 10A DC setting. I put the continuity light in line between the - post and the - cable and it lights the bulb too. I also had disconnected the alternator during all this. Granted, I'm no electrical genius but I have to admit, I am lost at where to go from here. Any help out there this Christmas eve? Thanks y'all. Anyway, Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

Optima battery.

Sounds like there's something on the positive side of the circuit, somewhere between the battery & fuse box, that's shorted to ground.

Find a schematic or wiring diagram - Haynes is better than nothing, but factory would be ideal. And plan on cutting the tape off most of the harness to trace wires. I'm betting you'll find something in there.

You SURE it's a 2002?

Recall ID: 02066

Recall Description: BATTERY DRAIN

involved vehicles are certain: 2003 Chevrolet Silverado, Tahoe, Suburban; 2003 GMC Sierra, Yukon, Yukon XL; 2003 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade EXT, Escalade ESV Equipped with Quadrasteer (NYS), Autoride (Z55), or Vehicle Stability Enhancement/StabiliTrak (JL4)

December, 2002 Dear General Motors Customer:

We want your experience owning your 2003 model year Chevrolet Silverado, Tahoe, and Suburban; 2003 model year GMC Sierra, Yukon, and Yukon XL; and 2003 model year Cadillac Escalade, Escalade EXT, and Escalade ESV vehicles equipped with Quadrasteer, Autoride, or Vehicle Stability Enhancement/StabiliTrack to be better than any other you've had ... which is why we're writing.

We have learned that your 2003 model year Chevrolet Silverado, Tahoe, and Suburban; 2003 model year GMC Sierra, Yukon, and Yukon XL; and 2003 model year Cadillac Escalade, Escalade EXT, and Escalade ESV vehicle may have the potential of exhibiting a battery drain condition. An anomaly in the operation of the steering wheel position sensor may keep the Body Control Module (BCM) from shutting down when the key is in the OFF position. The resultant 3.5 amp draw/load on the battery could possible discharge the battery to the point where the battery will not have sufficient amperage to start the vehicle.

What We Have Done We've sent a new BCM calibration to your dealer so that your vehicle can be reprogrammed to ensure that the BCM shuts down when you turn the vehicle off. This service will be performed for you at no charge.

What You Should Do We recommend that you contact your dealer to arrange a service date. If you have experienced this condition in the past and your battery was recharged or replaced, your vehicle will still need to be reprogrammed.

here are the VIN breakpoints to determine if your vehicle is possibly involved (contact your dealer or the customer assistance certain to determine for sure):

2003 Chevrolet Silverado Plant: Flint From: 3F100014 Through: 3F165707

Plant: Oshawa From: 31100001 Through: 31235800

2003 Chevrolet Tahoe Plant: Arlington From: 3R100009 Through: 3R181251

Plant: Janesville From: 3J100001 Through: 3J179899

2003 Chevrolet Suburban Plant: Arlington From: 3R100009 Thtough: 3R181251

Plant: Janesville From: 3J100001 Through: 3J183738

Plant: Silao From: 3G100034 Through: 3G183738

2003 GMC Sierra Plant: Flint From: 3F100004 Through: 3F165315

Plant: Oshawa From: 31100004 Through: 31235792

2003 GMC Yukon Plant: Arlington From: 3R100003 Through: 3R181273

Plant: Janesville From: 3J100003 Through: 3J179886

2003 GMC Yukon XL Plant: Arlington From: 3R100005 Through: 3R181273

Plant: Janesville From: 3J100003 Through: 3J179886

Plant: Silao From: 3G100020 Through: 3G183779

2003 Cadillac Escalade Plant: Arlington From: 3R100001 Through: 3R181357

2003 Cadillac Escalade EXT Plant: Arlington From: 3G100002 Through: 3G183821

2003 Cadillac Escalade ESV Plant: Arlington From: 3G100002 Through: 3G183821

Thanks guys for the new direction to take. I'll check it out in the a.m. One additional thing I forgot to mention... When I disconnected the neg. battery cable from the battery and put the continuity light in line between the neg. cable and neg. post , the light in the tester came on and pulsated like a turn signal (never going out but dimming and brightening). The pos. cable is hooked up to the battery and the wire is off the alternator. What gives? Does the pulsating light give a clue to my problem?... And the continuity tester light is not supposed to light up when its hooked up between the post and cable, is it??? Again, THANKS for all your help.

If the continuity light glows there is a current draw. The problem is to find where.

Is your Optima dead? For an Optima, that means less than 10.5 volts--any less, and the alternator (or almost any other charger) won't charge it. Test that, and if below, charge it while it's "jump starting" another good battery.

optima battery is at 12.76 v.