Bad rainstorm dead battery.

kdawg · 10-22-2007, 07:55 AM

We had a bad rainstorm on Friday night and the truck got pretty wet. Made it home OK but when I went to start the truck the next morning the battery was dead. Thinking the engine was soaked I let it sit in the sun a few hours to dry out and it started without a jump but just barely. Ran fine the next day but the idle was rough. Woke up this morning and battery was dead again this time I had to jump it. Started up quick with the jump. And diagnoses as to what is going on? I'd say I got water in my distributer but it doesn't have one. Anyone? Did my batter just happen to die at the same time as the rainstorm?

2003greenbean · 10-22-2007, 08:07 AM

i think it is just the battery

TheMaster · 10-22-2007, 08:21 AM

If your battery is 5 years plus, I might say its your battery. But then, you could be your alternator too, not charging the battery.

kdawg · 10-22-2007, 08:26 AM

Could the alternator just be wet or did it get ruined from the rain? It's been three days now. I've driven it quite a bit so I would think it would have dried out by now.

2003greenbean · 10-22-2007, 08:34 AM

go to a parts store have them tested the do it for free

lsocoee · 10-22-2007, 08:40 AM

I'm leaning towards the battery. You might have a heavily corroded connection to your battery that would be causing some problems. Unscrew the leads and check to see how clean they are.

I have found that high humidity seems to cause either the battery or alternator to go out on my Saturns. I don't see why a Toyota would be any different, aside from Saturns being pieces of crap.

kdawg · 10-22-2007, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lsocoee

I'm leaning towards the battery. You might have a heavily corroded connection to your battery that would be causing some problems. Unscrew the leads and check to see how clean they are.

I have found that high humidity seems to cause either the battery or alternator to go out on my Saturns. I don't see why a Toyota would be any different, aside from Saturns being pieces of crap.

When you say "Go out" do you mean like no good anymore? Or just not work when humid?

lsocoee · 10-22-2007, 09:07 AM

They pack their bags and move into the dumpster.

kdawg · 10-22-2007, 09:11 AM

Damn! Whats the best way to check the alternator?

lsocoee · 10-22-2007, 09:21 AM

Go to AutoZone and ask them to check it. They can measure the output amperage.

I could be wrong on this, but I think that alternators are all or nothing. In other words, they don't partially work. If you have been driving around, then your alternator is working.

I still say, check your connections. If the battery posts are corroded, the AutoZone battery test will give you some screwy results.

phantom · 10-22-2007, 02:50 PM

i am not a expert !

but you are sure all electrical stuff was off?
ok, you could try and disconnect the battery overnight and see if it started ok the next day ?
i have seen faulty brake and lights drain it and hard to see if you don't look !
can also be a stuck a/c clutch

IF you have a voltmeter? just put it across the battery . check the voltage, start it and check the voltage again !
should be almost 1 1/2 volts higher when fast idle ! from about 12 to about 13.8 vdc

now in the alternator is usually 6 diodes to rectify the ac to dc and one of them goes bad, just replace the alternator
and that will usually show up as a higher charge voltage ( but no more current)

if no voltmeter or my ideas are confusing

just turn on the lights and see how bright against a wall, start the truck and should be brighter !
hope this helps some?

10-22-2007, 07:55 AM	#1
kdawg Junior Member Joined: Oct 2007, #3167 Posts: 4 99 Plainjane Tacoma Manual 2WD 1999 Regular Cab Manual	Bad rainstorm dead battery. We had a bad rainstorm on Friday night and the truck got pretty wet. Made it home OK but when I went to start the truck the next morning the battery was dead. Thinking the engine was soaked I let it sit in the sun a few hours to dry out and it started without a jump but just barely. Ran fine the next day but the idle was rough. Woke up this morning and battery was dead again this time I had to jump it. Started up quick with the jump. And diagnoses as to what is going on? I'd say I got water in my distributer but it doesn't have one. Anyone? Did my batter just happen to die at the same time as the rainstorm?

10-22-2007, 08:07 AM	#2
2003greenbean Carolina Alliance Costal Div Joined: Jan 2007, #672 Location: socaste,sc Age: 26 Posts: 916 03 trd 2003 Access Cab Manual 3.4 cold air intake, step bars, custom grill, 3in lift,12 in audiobahn sub, 285/75/16 procomp tires, 20% tint,	i think it is just the battery __________________

10-22-2007, 08:21 AM	#3
TheMaster Speechless Joined: Oct 2006, #112 Location: Land of No Specific Enemy Gender: Male Posts: 2,998 2007 DC TRD Sport 2007 Double Cab Automatic Its a Toyota ;-) Bug shield, window visors, skid plate, rust proofing, tonneau cover, paint & upholstery protection, side step bars, navigation system.	If your battery is 5 years plus, I might say its your battery. But then, you could be your alternator too, not charging the battery. __________________ "My honour is more valuable than my commission".

10-22-2007, 08:34 AM	#5
2003greenbean Carolina Alliance Costal Div Joined: Jan 2007, #672 Location: socaste,sc Age: 26 Posts: 916 03 trd 2003 Access Cab Manual 3.4 cold air intake, step bars, custom grill, 3in lift,12 in audiobahn sub, 285/75/16 procomp tires, 20% tint,	go to a parts store have them tested the do it for free __________________

10-22-2007, 08:40 AM	#6
lsocoee Why am I always the little spoon? Joined: Feb 2007, #872 Location: Metairie, LA Gender: Dude Posts: 6,669 2007 PreRunner SR5 Double Cab Long B 2007 Double Cab Automatic V-6 Bed mat, URD CAI, URD MAF Calibrator, C2C Hood Struts, Wet Okole Seat Covers, Pop-n-Lok, Wet Okole Underwear	I'm leaning towards the battery. You might have a heavily corroded connection to your battery that would be causing some problems. Unscrew the leads and check to see how clean they are. I have found that high humidity seems to cause either the battery or alternator to go out on my Saturns. I don't see why a Toyota would be any different, aside from Saturns being pieces of crap. __________________ Tacoma World: One big happily dysfunctional family.

10-22-2007, 08:26 AM	#4
kdawg Junior Member Joined: Oct 2007, #3167 Posts: 4 99 Plainjane Tacoma Manual 2WD 1999 Regular Cab Manual	Could the alternator just be wet or did it get ruined from the rain? It's been three days now. I've driven it quite a bit so I would think it would have dried out by now.

10-22-2007, 09:07 AM	#8
lsocoee Why am I always the little spoon? Joined: Feb 2007, #872 Location: Metairie, LA Gender: Dude Posts: 6,669 2007 PreRunner SR5 Double Cab Long B 2007 Double Cab Automatic V-6 Bed mat, URD CAI, URD MAF Calibrator, C2C Hood Struts, Wet Okole Seat Covers, Pop-n-Lok, Wet Okole Underwear	They pack their bags and move into the dumpster. __________________ Tacoma World: One big happily dysfunctional family.

10-22-2007, 09:11 AM	#9
kdawg Junior Member Joined: Oct 2007, #3167 Posts: 4 99 Plainjane Tacoma Manual 2WD 1999 Regular Cab Manual	Damn! Whats the best way to check the alternator?

10-22-2007, 09:21 AM	#10
lsocoee Why am I always the little spoon? Joined: Feb 2007, #872 Location: Metairie, LA Gender: Dude Posts: 6,669 2007 PreRunner SR5 Double Cab Long B 2007 Double Cab Automatic V-6 Bed mat, URD CAI, URD MAF Calibrator, C2C Hood Struts, Wet Okole Seat Covers, Pop-n-Lok, Wet Okole Underwear	Go to AutoZone and ask them to check it. They can measure the output amperage. I could be wrong on this, but I think that alternators are all or nothing. In other words, they don't partially work. If you have been driving around, then your alternator is working. I still say, check your connections. If the battery posts are corroded, the AutoZone battery test will give you some screwy results. __________________ Tacoma World: One big happily dysfunctional family.

10-22-2007, 02:50 PM	#11
phantom Senior Member Joined: Oct 2007, #3036 Gender: Male Posts: 1,152 base tacoma 2007 Regular Cab Automatic 2.7 hitch and wiring,bullbars,fog lights,hand made seatcovers, rear speakers in a reg cab,truck alarm,vent visors,rear view mirror,black low profile truck box, bed bolt d rings,pop & lock,bed extender, CUSTOM n-fab step bars,timbrens,sockmonkey mod	i am not a expert ! but you are sure all electrical stuff was off? ok, you could try and disconnect the battery overnight and see if it started ok the next day ? i have seen faulty brake and lights drain it and hard to see if you don't look ! can also be a stuck a/c clutch IF you have a voltmeter? just put it across the battery . check the voltage, start it and check the voltage again ! should be almost 1 1/2 volts higher when fast idle ! from about 12 to about 13.8 vdc now in the alternator is usually 6 diodes to rectify the ac to dc and one of them goes bad, just replace the alternator and that will usually show up as a higher charge voltage ( but no more current) if no voltmeter or my ideas are confusing just turn on the lights and see how bright against a wall, start the truck and should be brighter ! hope this helps some?

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