Ground Problem?

OK guys, I need help getting my car back on the road (yet) again. Here's the scenario this time:

For the past few months, my car's had a hard time starting up. Before it would crank, but have a hard time firing... or start up and idle for a bit, then die.

My first thought was maybe the battery's bad, but I pulled that and had it tested at Schucks/Kragens and Sears, and they said it's ok. The former they just checked the voltage, the latter hooked it up to some machine for a "7min road worthy" test or something.. i dunno. It passed though.

So I put it back in and start thinking maybe it's the fuel pump or something, but I didn't wanna worry about it so I just let it hang out for a while.

Over the past month and a half or so, I been getting in periodically to see if it'll start up. It does most of the time, but I've noticed that the clock is also flashing 12:00 all the time. I can set it and go back the next day and it's flashing 12:00 again. Last week, after not starting it up for about 2 weeks, it just straight up died again after idling for about 2 min. I had to jump start it, and it's being ok for now. But the clock is still doing the flashing 12:00 thing..

So it's like something's still running even after I turn off the car, and that's draining the battery? I turn everything off, and never had that problem before, so I can't think of what it might be. Is it likely to be a "ground problem?" I don't really know how that works, but it seems like something's draining the power from the battery... or maybe my clock's just broken now.. If someone could point me in a couple of directions of what I should probably check out that would help a bunch...

not too sure a bad ground would cause that.

could be a bad alternator? or bad terminal connection. when my battery terminals were loose, it would drain the battery. so tightening them up...it may be as simple as that.

not too sure a bad ground would cause that.

could be a bad alternator? or bad terminal connection. when my battery terminals were loose, it would drain the battery. so tightening them up...it may be as simple as that.

just put in a new alternator in i think about 6 months ago, so i hope it's not that.. it seems to stay charged when i'm driving it..

do you mean bad terminal connection, as in connection between the terminals and the cables to the car, or terminals and whereever they connect inside the battery itself? .. i have the cables on there pretty tight on the battery end, and i'm pretty sure they were put on tight on the starter end when I replaced that, but i'll check those again..

For starting probs check the Negative terminal on the coil whch screws to the inner wing, they usually corrode up. Also check you Interior light as Ifs its also corroded, it could be causing a bad earth

You want a better ground?

Get this:
http://www.club-s12.org/board/attachment.php?attachmentid=217

http://www.club-s12.org/board/attachment.php?attachmentid=218