Originally Posted by pizzaguy

My car sits for three weeks at a time with no issue. The manual specifies no more than .06 amp (60 mA) but you measure this by the exact procedure:

1) Disconnect battery ground cable
2) Insert an ammeter/DVM inline If your meter is fused on one lead with a 1/4 amp fuse, use the 10 amp jack; when you first connect it, a surge of current will flow of well over 1/4 amp and blow the little fuse. This is why using a digital meter is so helpful, even on the 2 or 10 amp scale, you can read currents as low as .005 amp. If you see ZERO current, open a door and verify a dome light comes on (you will see an amp or two of current), if you can't get the light to come on, your meter fuse is blown or you don't have it connected right.
3) With doors and trunk closed and key off and removed from the ignition, wait at least 3 minutes. (This allows the security system and other 'stuff' to get to it's "resting" state, looking at the meter too quickly will make you think you have a problem you do not really have)
4) Observe the meter - ANYTHING over 60mA is a PROBLEM.


My "gut" feeling is that your battery is on it's way out. The spoiler acting up is a good sign of either a bad battery, weak/flaky alternator or battery/ground cable in poor shape.

Originally Posted by GraphiteGhost

Awesome tutorial! People seem to be in a hurry a lot and never wait for the car to settle down (all the electronics).