What's Draining My Battery

Hey all, I am having an issue with my battery draining and I can't figure out what's doing it. I thought it was my dash-cam, but when I left for my trip a week ago I unplugged it and my battery still died. Any ideas on what I can use to see what my battery is putting out while the truck is off?

 

Google is your friend.

 

Ok. If thats your answer, please save it. I posted here to see if anyone here has had similar issues or knows of a solution. If not, keep it to yourself.

 

I've had this issue in a Toyota Avalon some years back. After 4-5 days of not driving, the battery would be dead. When I took to dealer they couldn't debug or find any issues. Turned out to be door sensor. Lexus' had similar issue. Not sure if this for your Tacoma but something to look into. Good luck.

 

Thank you. I do have several things running on the fuse box, but they should all be when the truck is on. Is there a type of meter I can use to see if there is a draw on the battery when the truck is off? I have a multimeter, but am unsure how to use it for this application.

 

How long is it taking to drain the battery? from full charge or partial?
Can you confirm whether the alternator is charging it or not?
Any other aftermarket electronics that could be draining it?

 

Watch a video on YouTube how to measure parasitic draw on a car battery.

Also have the battery professionally tested. New doesn’t mean good.

 

Google will teach you how to use the multimeter for that.

 

I parked at the airport on Tuesday of last week and when I got back yesterday, the truck wouldn't start. There is no indication that the alternator is not working and the ONLY other thing that is tied to the electrical system and not constant on is my 12-volt solutions remote start.

 

Unplug EVERYTHING thats aftermarket. And by that I mean unplug it by disconnecting the positive lead from whatever source you tapped it from, don't just unplug it at the device. (Cheap relays and volt converters can and sometimes do leak.) You're going to have to do that anyway when investigating with a m.m., so you might as well start by pulling all of it. And if your battery still shows significant voltage drop after a day of having all aftermarket stuff unplugged, you would then need to start investigating your battery and your stock circuits.

 

Could be anything. If CAN networks don't go to sleep, they can drain the battery.
Start with any electrical addons. Lock the truck, unplug all addons and put a voltmeter on the battery to check the load. There are some tools that can log the data over a long period of time.
Check Pine Hollow diagnostics YT channel for troubleshooting strategies.

 

Thanks all! I appreciate your help. Anyone running the KTJO4X4 HUD have issues with battery drain?

 

Just brainstorming here, but I think you could use your multimeter at the fuse box with the car off and battery connected to see if a particular fused circuit is drawing power. Pull that fuse for a short term fix until you find the culprit on that fuse circuit.

 

Is there a type of meter I can use to see if there is a draw on the battery when the truck is off?

Yes....use a simple multi-meter. Set it to the highest amp setting. Disconnect the neg battery terminal and put the meter leads between the battery neg and the vehicle neg lead. Look at the reading. Normal reading would be only a few thousand mill-amps.

If it was me, I would take an initial reading...then disconnect any and all after-market devices. Then take another reading and see if its lower. Probably will be.

Also, be aware that when you initially connect your meter each time, the amp draw will be higher since the vehicle has been "awaken"...it can take up to 30 seconds for the draw to settle down as the vehicle goes back asleep. Be sure doors are closed and lights not on. Even the hood being up puts a display on the dash.

 

https://youtu.be/n5FJDgcdii8

 

If it was mine..i would put an amp clamp on it..could be a bad cell in the battery,or a draw.

 

how old is the battery, do you have the smart fob/push button ignition, when was the last time you FULLY CHARGED THE BATTERY on a battery tender/charger? our newer vehicles have so many communications RF transmission, & seeking, and monitors on them, they will discharge a marginal battery very quickly. I truly charge the batteries in our vehicles once every 4-8 weeks, even if they are a daily driver. the alternators are not designed to restore batteries to full charge on short trips. Ski

 

The battery is a couple of years old.

 

This the 4th thread this week with people having electrical issues with aftermarket electronics in their truck…..hmmmm, seems to be a trend.