Problem solved. the high draw off the battery turned out to be the Anti lock brake system. we could not get the fuse out for testing (its a big square thing with the fuse link visible thru a plastic window). ultimately the fuse had to be destroyed to get it out or at least break the electrical contact. no more draw the idiot light is on now but the brakes work fine other than no anti lock. I think a new fuse box would have to be installed because of what it took to rip it out. I opted for no antilock brakes. cars went without them for decades so I'm just going to leave it. I can only speculate what malfunctioned to cause it. with 300k on the clock I'm not gonna fix it. its only used for off road trips now anyway.