02 dead battery Again

[rokonrider]

does anyone know why the batt in my tundra is going down after a few days in the garage 2-5 days? Gettin tired of having to put it on the charger so often. Is this a common thing? Am I leaving something on? Thanks

[Hawaii 5.7]

How old is this battery? you may have to just change it... More info if you want help.

[rokonrider]

the batt is 3 years old but I guess the real question is , why will even a new batt go dead in just 10 days. This has been going on since I got the truck new. Thanks for the quik reply.

[Codiac]

Originally Posted by rokonrider

the batt is 3 years old but I guess the real question is , why will even a new batt go dead in just 10 days. This has been going on since I got the truck new. Thanks for the quik reply.

A good, new and fully charged battery shouldn't go dead in 10 days. There must be something drawing on it. Most parts stores will load test your battery to see if it is still good. I would do that first and if the battery is still viable then I think you have something left on or there is a short of some kind.

[Hawaii 5.7]

The useful life on batteries are about 3 to 6 years depending on grade of battery. It sounds like you have a draw some where in you system. Stereo? Alarm? Electrical short? Get a multi-meter, or preferably a friend with one who knows how to use it and get to testing. (can your stereo stay on with the truck off?) If you don't solve the problems it will go on and keep killing your batteries.

[rokonrider]

Thanks. Is this common? What could be drawing it down? I guess I'm off to interstate. RR

[Codiac]

Have you had your alternator checked???

[firewrench]

It doesn't take much to kill a battery in 3-5 days. There are parasitic draws from your ECM, which combined with stereo memory, alarms, etc can add up to be a decent enough draw to kill a battery. And a battery will never charge back to 100%. Each drain takes a little more life out of that battery. If you have a DVOM, you can check for parastic draws by disconnecting your negative cable and setting the DVOM to DC amps and put the leads in series between the negative terminal and cable. See what your draw is and disconnect fuses until the draw is 0 and then you will know which circuit the draw is on. It may be on 2-3 different circuits. If there are things on those circuits that you don't or can't turn off, they make solar battery charger/tenders that plug into your cigarette lighter that will maintain your battery. Or you can run the car a little more often. Hope that helps

[rokonrider]

Thanks for the info. The tundra is sitting until I can get someone competent to look at it. In the mean time it's the old reliable 22r RR

[culver10]

I have been having this issue for 5 years with my 2003 and I have found the answer!! I read in another forum that the auto turnoff headlights has a relay that consumes power when the light switch is left on (lights go out). I just tried it 10 minutes ago by connecting an amp meter between my removed negative terminal and the battery. With the swith on (no headlights on) there is a draw of 0.14 amps and with the switch off it only draws 0.02 amps. Yeah!!

[firewrench]

Excellent! Good info to have, thanks!!

[Deznutjob]

Now That Was Some Good Stuff!