Dead Battery

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Jonymoto
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Posts: 296
Joined: Wed May 06, 2015 9:39 pm
My tercel:: 1983, DLX 4wd wagon with 4.1 manual gearbox, tow bar). Manual steering. 313,000 kms. Tercel 4WD SR5, 1987, 500,000kms. Other car - 2003 Rav4, AWD, 2l manual, Peugeot 407 Diesel (93,000 miles) in Ireland for use when on holiday there.
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Dead Battery

Post by Jonymoto »

Recently I left my key in the ignition for about 24hrs in the accessory postion. The battery was completely dead when I next started the car. No accessory was on. Why would that be? Keep in mind it's summer here. So it's not the cold weather.:shock:
When you lose, don't lose the lesson - The Dalai Lama
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rer233
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Joined: Sat Jan 01, 2011 1:49 pm
My tercel:: Multiple

Re: Dead Battery

Post by rer233 »

Radio left on??
if it aint there, there's a good chance it won't break!
83 SR5 Silver/Blue (Snowmobile/work beater)-totaled but drivable
85 SR5 Blue
88 SR5 White (the 'good' one)-not anymore-totaled
87 fwd silver wagon a/t
87 4wd dx Cream (a/t- not anymore- now m/t)
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Petros
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Joined: Sun Jan 28, 2007 6:31 pm
My tercel:: '84 Tercel4wd w/extensive mods
Location: Arlington WA USA

Re: Dead Battery

Post by Petros »

are you sure it was in the accessory position? not sure there would be a draw unless something was left on. Perhaps a voltage "leak"?
'87 Tercel 4wd SR5 (current engine swap project)
'84 Tercel 4wd (daily driver, with on going mods)
'92 Mazda MPV 4wd (wife's daily driver)
'85 Tercel 4wd DLX auto(daughter's daily driver)
'01 Honda Civic (other daughter's daily driver)
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Jonymoto
Top Notch Member
Posts: 296
Joined: Wed May 06, 2015 9:39 pm
My tercel:: 1983, DLX 4wd wagon with 4.1 manual gearbox, tow bar). Manual steering. 313,000 kms. Tercel 4WD SR5, 1987, 500,000kms. Other car - 2003 Rav4, AWD, 2l manual, Peugeot 407 Diesel (93,000 miles) in Ireland for use when on holiday there.
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Re: Dead Battery

Post by Jonymoto »

Definitely nothing was left on. This car has no radio, yet. Previous owner took it out before selling it. I will try to replicate it and see if the battery goes dead again.
When you lose, don't lose the lesson - The Dalai Lama
User avatar
Jonymoto
Top Notch Member
Posts: 296
Joined: Wed May 06, 2015 9:39 pm
My tercel:: 1983, DLX 4wd wagon with 4.1 manual gearbox, tow bar). Manual steering. 313,000 kms. Tercel 4WD SR5, 1987, 500,000kms. Other car - 2003 Rav4, AWD, 2l manual, Peugeot 407 Diesel (93,000 miles) in Ireland for use when on holiday there.
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Re: Dead Battery

Post by Jonymoto »

I'm glad to report that it was definitely a voltage leak. Someone (namely myself) had been doing some work on the brake system (booster and master cylinder replacement due to a leaking mc). Since I'm waiting for a new mc, I haven't bothered to re-install the brake pedal spring yet. This resulted in the pedal dropping down as if the brake had been applied causing the brake lights to stay on. Leaving the key in the acc position was just a coincidence.
When you lose, don't lose the lesson - The Dalai Lama
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Petros
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Posts: 11930
Joined: Sun Jan 28, 2007 6:31 pm
My tercel:: '84 Tercel4wd w/extensive mods
Location: Arlington WA USA

Re: Dead Battery

Post by Petros »

leave the battery cable off until you have it ready to test run. while working on a car all taken apart there are lots of places you could inadvertently short something and melt parts, contacts or start a fire.

Funny how you automaticlly assumed it was related to the ignition key, just shows one has to always check your assumptions when diagnosing a problem. And to always diagnose it before you try and fix it.
'87 Tercel 4wd SR5 (current engine swap project)
'84 Tercel 4wd (daily driver, with on going mods)
'92 Mazda MPV 4wd (wife's daily driver)
'85 Tercel 4wd DLX auto(daughter's daily driver)
'01 Honda Civic (other daughter's daily driver)
User avatar
Jonymoto
Top Notch Member
Posts: 296
Joined: Wed May 06, 2015 9:39 pm
My tercel:: 1983, DLX 4wd wagon with 4.1 manual gearbox, tow bar). Manual steering. 313,000 kms. Tercel 4WD SR5, 1987, 500,000kms. Other car - 2003 Rav4, AWD, 2l manual, Peugeot 407 Diesel (93,000 miles) in Ireland for use when on holiday there.
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Re: Dead Battery

Post by Jonymoto »

You are right about making the wrong assumption. Whilst I was working on the brake I had the battery off the car. But I had to move the car out of the way later that day (using the hand brake as my only means of stopping the car) when I forgot the key in the ignition. It was only when I tried to replicate the fault the next day after charging the battery overnight that I noticed the brake lights were on.
When you lose, don't lose the lesson - The Dalai Lama
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