Battery draining in less than a week's time?

EDIT: The battery draining is a parasitic drain. Resetting fuse ECU-B NO.3 fixed the problem

Is it normal for a car battery to completely drain after a week of not driving?

When I disconnect the battery I can leave for weeks, reconnect and start the truck. When connected I need to drive the truck at least twice a week, if I don't I'll come back to a dead battery.

 

Not normal. Go have the battery tested at a local auto parts store.

 

You have a parasitic drain....like a glove box light being on. Use a meter is check for electrical draw (use the DC Amps setting). Disconnect the negative terminal and put the meter between the battery and cable. Make sure the vehicle door is closed and key off. Set your meter to 10DC Amps first. Normal draw is like 1/1000 of an amp.

 

Have you done any electrical modifications (such as installing a remote start)? Like Spacecoast said, it sounds like something is drawing power when it shouldn’t be.
Edit: A quick look at your posting history suggests that you may have installed an aftermarket horn. Maybe that is causing the issue?

 

If you cannot find the leak. You can install a switch instead of disconnecting and connecting the battery.

 

Diodes in alternator. Is it warm to touch after sitting?

 

that's battery failure for sure, 1 week is not enough for normal battery to die

 

Yup... its a parasitic drain. My meter doesn't have 10DCA only 5DCA, with 5DCA set my reading was 0.22 so something is drawing current.

This started happening a few months ago, in line with an accident I was in. Since the accident my DRLs have been acting up, not turning on in the on position, randomly turning back on. I'm going to start there, unplug the DRL fuse and run the same test you mentioned. Test all my other mods too, ditch lights, fog lights, headunit, campershell lights...

Thanks for the advice. I'll keep this post updated

 

See this post on the KDMX tune thread…

 

Post #5037

 

Did resetting that fuse fix the issue? Any tips? Ive got this problem and have not been able to solve it yet. Thanks.

 

I guess what I would do, with the meter set up between the negative battery terminal, and the negative cable (or frame ground), with the meter set to current, and if necessary, the positive probe of the meter in the current position instead of Volts/Ohms, then you start pulling fuses, and putting them back, noting the current draw decrease when the fuse is pulled.

When you've pulled the fuse related to the accessory or wiring to the device that is culprit, then you should see a reasonably significant, and the highest step-down in current draw.

Someone else indicated your normal current draw without a drain like you are experiencing is on the order of milliamps. How many? I'm not sure. But this process above should do the trick.

 

@Freefolk Can you tell us more about what happened and what you found? I dont understand how re-setting a fuse?? would do anything. Thanks

 

He may have meant, he pulled a fuse(s) inspected, and re-inserted them into their respective fuse holder. Just guessing.

 

Just started having the same dead battery issue. Any new news on the fix? 2021 tacoma 4x4