Hi all,

I have a Volvo 240 wagon from 1993.

My probs started when my car died in a parking garage. I found there was no spark, but that the fuel system was working fine. I began by replacing the plugs and wires....then a new coil.....then lastly a power stage amplifier. It was the amp that solved the spark problems.

However, I went out to the post office yesterday and got stranded again. Luckily I broke down in front of a garage. The guy brought out his battery pack and jumped the car no problem. Said it was a bad battery. While the old battery seemed fine to me when I was working on the care before, I got him to put a new one in. (its been cold in Chicago lately)

Today, the battery is drained again.

In working on the ignition system is there something that I could have done with the coil or the power stage amp that would drain the battery? Or rather, would there be a problem upstream from the powerstage amp (Ignition control Unit) that would explain both the battery problem AND the ruined powerstage amp?

I'm perplexed and frustrated.

+12V from the battery mostly goes four places:
1. fuel pump relay
2. ignition switch
3. starter
4. alternator

My guess is a bad fuel pump relay, bad ignition switch, or a always live wire being accidently grounded out somewhere (bad insolation). Power for the coil comes from the ignition switch so you shouldn't have +12v on the coil blue wire with the key out.

The power stage connection #4 also gets its power from the ignition switch so once again no voltage should be there with the key out.

You'll need a volt meter or test light no know for sure.