[continued from previous message]   
      
   the second battery kept dying, and the dealer replaced it.  So this is the   
   third battery in five years, with similar problems.   
      
   I asked the parts man at my local NAPA supply store what he thought about   
   all of this.  He also thinks the battery should not be going dead all the   
   time, regardless of driving habits, and suspects parasitic draining.  If   
   the BCM is not turning off all of the accessories after 30 seconds or so,   
   pull every fuse, one at a time.   
      
   I found a shop that does electrical detective work, and will visit them   
   when I get a chance, but that won't be for a few weeks.  When I do, I'll   
   report back here.   
      
   By the way, her Mazda does not have that auto stop/start, thank goodness.   
      
   Comment/rant: With all the creature comfort features, all the   
   computerization and sensors on new(er)cars these days, it's hard to   
   believe that engineers didn't compensate for the extra load on batteries.   
   Who wants to buy a new car and have to worry about keeping the battery   
   charged?  Does an older, retired couple who drives five miles to the   
   grocery store once or twice a week know how or want to have to trickle   
   charge their car?  I guess this is progress.   
      
   Thanks for reading this far.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)