Cut to the chase.
I had all 4 door's and the hatch back open when I was cleaning the car the other day. Battery next day completely dead. I charged battery and car was fine for 2 days, then dead battery.
I recently changed the alternator, all the belts and new battery. It's still happening about every 2 days, dead battery. I did notice that the passenger side door light switch was sticking ( would turn on and off ) rusty. Solution, cut the wire to switch and capped it off. Also check the likely suspects. Dime light is working good but I just turned switch to off to cover my bases. Unplugged the accessories that plugged into cigarette lighter.
Battery cables and clean and free of corrosion.
Looking for anything I might have missed.
This is worth mentioning - on of the 3 alternator wires was loose but still making contact.
HELP
- Bill
Mystery Battery Drain
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dlb
- Highest Ranking Member
- Posts: 7442
- Joined: Mon Jul 06, 2009 9:03 pm
- My tercel:: '87 sr5, '83 dlx parts car
- Location: bc, canada
Re: Mystery Battery Drain
Just to confirm, the battery is brand new? Just wondering if it's an old one you swapped in for testing. It sounds like an old battery not holding charge but if the battery is new it's not that.
I would check the voltage while engine is running to confirm the new alternator is working correctly.
I would check the voltage while engine is running to confirm the new alternator is working correctly.
Re: Mystery Battery Drain
Easy way to check for parasitic draw- turn everything off, key out of ignition, open hood, close all doors, disconnect negative battery terminal, and hook one lead of a test light to the neg. battery terminal and the other end to the disconnected battery cable. If the light illuminates, you have a current draw greater than the current to light the test light. Then pull fuses 'till the light goes out. This should work on our cars since having the hood open doesn't trigger any electrical stuff.
Good luck- hope this helps!
Good luck- hope this helps!
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)
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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Mark
- Highest Ranking Member
- Posts: 904
- Joined: Mon Apr 22, 2013 9:49 pm
- My tercel:: 1984 Automatic, 1981 sedan
- Location: Victoria, B.C.
Re: Mystery Battery Drain
You could check with an amp meter as well. Disconnect one of the battery terminals and touch it back to the battery post. There shouldn't be a spark. Set up a multimeter between one of the battery cables and the battery post. Set it for the highest setting at first (usually 5 amps). See if there is any current flowing when everything in the car is turned off (including door open lights). If not, you could then set the meter to a lower milliamp setting to see if there is a small current draw. A large current (more than an amp) might indicate some kind of short to ground like a wire with worn insulation.