DEAD BATTERY!!
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DEAD BATTERY!!
HI GUYS i just bought a 87 tercel 4wd to replace the 84 it was totaled.I bought a new battery for the 87 and it is always dieing i changed the terminals and cheacked all of the fues's and nothing i need some help asap plz help.
- Neu
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Re: DEAD BATTERY!!
Take the battery back and get a new one. They have a warranty. Some batteries are bad...
- splatterdog
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Re: DEAD BATTERY!!
I would also look for parasitic draw. Do the batt terminals spark at all when removed or installed? That would be a dead giveaway on a terc(this means nothing on newer more electrical dependent cars).
If the battery checks out you will need an amp meter to thoroughly test for it. 25-35 milliamps or less is what you need. Newer cadillacs allow as much as 50 to keep all their computers memory going but all we have is a dash clock and stereo memory if it's not stock. If there is a parasite and it's not drawing too much a 12 volt bulb can suffice as a tester. Can't exactly remember the old school spec, if you can call it that, but with a bulb hooked in series at either terminal it should be very dim to no light. If it's too much draw you will smoke the bulb like a fuse.
If it lights, pull fuses one at a time until the light goes out. Alternator could be leaking as well and should be disconnected if fuse pulling doesn't find it.
If the battery checks out you will need an amp meter to thoroughly test for it. 25-35 milliamps or less is what you need. Newer cadillacs allow as much as 50 to keep all their computers memory going but all we have is a dash clock and stereo memory if it's not stock. If there is a parasite and it's not drawing too much a 12 volt bulb can suffice as a tester. Can't exactly remember the old school spec, if you can call it that, but with a bulb hooked in series at either terminal it should be very dim to no light. If it's too much draw you will smoke the bulb like a fuse.
If it lights, pull fuses one at a time until the light goes out. Alternator could be leaking as well and should be disconnected if fuse pulling doesn't find it.
- Petros
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Re: DEAD BATTERY!!
are you sure the alternator is working? If it does not charge it might appear the battery is bad. But even new batteries can go bad fairly fast, I had to replace several new batteries within the first month of ownership in the last few years.
Turn on the lights at night against a wall, then start the engine and rev it. If the lights get brighter than the charging circuit is working. Or use a volt-olm meter. This can be used to see if you are leaking a charge when the engine is off.
good luck.
Turn on the lights at night against a wall, then start the engine and rev it. If the lights get brighter than the charging circuit is working. Or use a volt-olm meter. This can be used to see if you are leaking a charge when the engine is off.
good luck.
'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)
'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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Re: DEAD BATTERY!!
the battery and alternator are good they have been tested
. no the terminals do not spark. i have ben told that the stereo could be causing it but i don't know. 


- Neu
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Re: DEAD BATTERY!!
Rip the stereo deck out and wait a few days. Best way to test right there, also very easy if you have a ....crap i'm blanking on the word, oh, the right harness. If you have the right harness it should just unclip and it's super easy.
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Re: DEAD BATTERY!!
ok i removed the stereo and it looks to be good the car still starts thanks alot another problem solved by tercel4wd.com good work.
- Neu
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Re: DEAD BATTERY!!
Just rewire the deck, a wire or two probably got messed up. Or get a new stereo deck.
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Re: DEAD BATTERY!!
ya i bought a $200 stereo to replace it and i was wondering do i have to cenect the dash dimmer switch up to the new one or can i even cenect it



- splatterdog
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Re: DEAD BATTERY!!
Tape it off, or maybe use it for rigging up a light for the junk pocket beneath the deck
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Re: DEAD BATTERY!!
thanks for the idea and how might i do that?