A4000 battery leakage need help

[mfrank]

I have an A4000 that had the battery removed long ago, however, while I was using it the resistors leading to the serial port are overheating and burning, they are R993,994 and 989, since these are right next to the battery I'm assuming that old leakage caused the problem,  My question is, if I cut the resistors out (carefully) the worst I could do is to disable the port, (that should eliminate the short) I would still have the other port for the mouse, any help is greatly appreciated, also did I read the schematic right?  Also if I killed both serial ports will an add in card with serial ports work for the mouse  - the lesson here is to clean around the battery if you remove it.
Thanks Mike

[mfrank]

Yes I meant the mouse and joystick ports, my brain stopped working when I realized I had the problem, I also realize that I have the Rev. B motherboard and the old battery was between the simms and the row of 8 resistors where I'm having the problem, I noticed that the trace from one side of the resistors goes to the J975, "the mystery jumper" so if I replace the resistors I can make one side of the connection there and avoid the motherboard.  Thanks for the help, Mike