I'd say it's definitely the hood light if your car is 98 or older. There's a little accordian-like switch on the engine bay that turns the hood light off. Open the hood and look to your left in the front. That's the switch for the light. Just take the bulb out.

Another way to check it is to pull fuse 34 (under the left driver's foot). Hook up a DMM set to 10 Amps and check the current with the hood and doors closed.

After 2 years (and 2 brand new batteries (free of course)) of fighting with it, I found this was the problem.

Good luck

96 Green Mystique Zetec ATX No mods yet (wife's car but I drive it all the time) If you want something done right, do it yourself or use an SAE mechanic you can buy beer for.