Car Question

[dennishoddy]

To check for a bad battery connection use a volt meter set on DC putting one probe on the post an the other on the cable. If any voltage registers, its a bad connection between cable and post. If the meter registers O, the connection is good.

 

[Zaphod Beeblebrox]

My old MR2 does that when the ground cable to the battery isn't connected well enough. Sometimes, it also shoots spark from the battery too. Old Toyos eat batteries for breakfast. I've learned the hard way to leave a trickle charger on it. Otherwise, inside a week (sitting in the garage), the battery will be dead.

 

[dennishoddy]

My old MR2 does that when the ground cable to the battery isn't connected well enough. Sometimes, it also shoots spark from the battery too. Old Toyos eat batteries for breakfast. I've learned the hard way to leave a trickle charger on it. Otherwise, inside a week (sitting in the garage), the battery will be dead.

HMMMM I've had a Tacoma 4X4 since 95. It can sit for a week and have no battery issues. I suspect you have other issues?

 

[Zaphod Beeblebrox]

HMMMM I've had a Tacoma 4X4 since 95. It can sit for a week and have no battery issues. I suspect you have other issues?

Real good chance of that. It has an aftermarket alarm and turbo timer. I didn't install either, so the possibility of wiring problems is pretty fair. Also, I had to have the ECU rewired because for some reason, Toyota thought it would be a good idea to run the ground wire for the ECU underneath the rain guard over the engine compartment. It turned green and disintegrated. Luckily, I knew a guy who had encountered the problem before.

However, my Dad's '92 truck is bone stock and it will need a jump after a week or so. Even with an Optima red top under the hood.

 

[Defnestor]

Possibility one: Bad connection. Inspect cable ends for damage and corrosion, replace if necessary. Clean cable ends and posts with a wire brush.
Possibility two: Just because the $8.13/hr. counter guy reads 12V on your battery, doesn't mean it's good. At no load, (just sitting there) the battery should read over 12.4V. If it doesn't, replace it. Don't buy your batteries at Autozone. Buy a good battery at Interstate or a similar battery shop.

 

[dennishoddy]

Real good chance of that. It has an aftermarket alarm and turbo timer. I didn't install either, so the possibility of wiring problems is pretty fair. Also, I had to have the ECU rewired because for some reason, Toyota thought it would be a good idea to run the ground wire for the ECU underneath the rain guard over the engine compartment. It turned green and disintegrated. Luckily, I knew a guy who had encountered the problem before.

However, my Dad's '92 truck is bone stock and it will need a jump after a week or so. Even with an Optima red top under the hood.

That's interesting you have two vehicles with that issue.

 

[MisterGrubbs]

Real good chance of that. It has an aftermarket alarm and turbo timer. I didn't install either, so the possibility of wiring problems is pretty fair. Also, I had to have the ECU rewired because for some reason, Toyota thought it would be a good idea to run the ground wire for the ECU underneath the rain guard over the engine compartment. It turned green and disintegrated. Luckily, I knew a guy who had encountered the problem before.

However, my Dad's '92 truck is bone stock and it will need a jump after a week or so. Even with an Optima red top under the hood.

That, sir, is what we call a parasitic drain in your electrical system. Some part of your system is hard-wired to constantly have power.

 

[Defnestor]

That, sir, is what we call a parasitic drain in your electrical system. Some part of your system is hard-wired to constantly have power.

How old is your dad? Could it be the left turn signal?

 

[FRISKY]

The battery could have one dead cell...

 

[MisterGrubbs]

Did the peckerhead a the store load test the battery or did he just check the voltage of it?