I have went through three batteries within a week. I buy a brand new one and by morning its dead. I take the keys out of the ignition and dont use anything electrical. Took it to Brake Masters they said it was the altenator so that was replaced but still the same issue is happening. I disconnected the house battery thinking maybe that was doing it but nope. Please any help here would be appreciated bc I dont have the money to take it back to the shop. Its a 1988 Toyota Odyssey 22 footer
Engine Battery Keeps Dying
- Thread starter Karma
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HumbleBeginnings
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Off the top of my head:
- is your battery not getting charged? (replaced alternator, so you wouldn't think that is still the problem, though it is possible)
- is your battery being drained when the car is off?
You could check for the second condition very simply by measuring your battery voltage when you turn off your engine, then again after a couple hours, then again the next morning. Of course, this route may take you to another dead battery. Tracking down the source of the battery drain can be a pain.
A quick way to save the battery (though not fix the root problem) would be to install a terminal disconnect on your negative terminal. I've use one like this before: https://www.amazon.com/Battery-Term...w.cheaprvliving.com/cheap-solar-living-store/
- is your battery not getting charged? (replaced alternator, so you wouldn't think that is still the problem, though it is possible)
- is your battery being drained when the car is off?
You could check for the second condition very simply by measuring your battery voltage when you turn off your engine, then again after a couple hours, then again the next morning. Of course, this route may take you to another dead battery. Tracking down the source of the battery drain can be a pain.
A quick way to save the battery (though not fix the root problem) would be to install a terminal disconnect on your negative terminal. I've use one like this before: https://www.amazon.com/Battery-Term...w.cheaprvliving.com/cheap-solar-living-store/
HumbleBeginnings said:
Yes the battery is draining when the RV is off and absolutely nothing is running to be draining energy from the battery thats why I am so confused. I drove it to the Northwest and back to AZ. It was perfectly fine then after a few days in AZ this issue happened so I have to keep jumping it to get it started and that usually takes about 5 minutes bc the battery is so dead. Ive even disconnected the battery at night and the next morning connected it and its still dead.
HumbleBeginnings
Well-known member
Karma said:
This doesn't make any sense unless the battery was dead before you disconnected it, which would tell me it is still not getting charged.
Do you have a voltmeter? I think you're going to need one to figure this out. If you disconnect a battery and measure the voltage, the next morning the voltage should read exactly the same. (Batteries do lose voltage over time, but not over a single night.)
HumbleBeginnings
Well-known member
It's been a while since I've done this, but I think I would start by testing the fuse block for the circuits that are hot when the car is off. Then it's a matter of deciding which one is drawing too much power.
BUT... nothing is drawing your battery down while the battery is disconnected. So I still think you need to measure your battery voltage 20 mins or so after power off the vehicle.
BUT... nothing is drawing your battery down while the battery is disconnected. So I still think you need to measure your battery voltage 20 mins or so after power off the vehicle.
Go to a shop and ask them how much it would cost for them to check for parasitic draw.
WM sells pretty cheaply made batteries and I've had mixed luck with them. Right now I have a starting batt that's only 2 weeks old and it drops down to only 75% SOC (state of charge) overnight. My charging system is fine.
WM sells pretty cheaply made batteries and I've had mixed luck with them. Right now I have a starting batt that's only 2 weeks old and it drops down to only 75% SOC (state of charge) overnight. My charging system is fine.
Gideon33w
Well-known member
Ok, here is the method for finding what is pulling amps when everything should be off.
Disconnect positive battery terminal. Ensure that no under hood or interior light is on.
Connect one end of a multimeter to the positive battery cable and the other end to the battery positive.
Set to amps. You'll notice that amps are being pulled even though nothing is on.
Now, go to the fuse box and pull one fuse. Start in a logical order to make things easier.
With that fuse out, retest with multimeter. (Remember to wait until interior lights turn off)
Replace fuse, pull next one, and test again. Keep going until the amp draw goes away.
Whichever system that fuse corresponds to is the culprit. Troubleshoot from there.
Also, might want to move this to mechanical since it's a vehicle issue.
Disconnect positive battery terminal. Ensure that no under hood or interior light is on.
Connect one end of a multimeter to the positive battery cable and the other end to the battery positive.
Set to amps. You'll notice that amps are being pulled even though nothing is on.
Now, go to the fuse box and pull one fuse. Start in a logical order to make things easier.
With that fuse out, retest with multimeter. (Remember to wait until interior lights turn off)
Replace fuse, pull next one, and test again. Keep going until the amp draw goes away.
Whichever system that fuse corresponds to is the culprit. Troubleshoot from there.
Also, might want to move this to mechanical since it's a vehicle issue.
highdesertranger
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you obviously have a drain and a pretty big one at that. when anybody is having any problems you need to post what area you are in, so if someone is close they might be able to help. Gideon posted how to find the short. I would like to add if the short is more then 10amps you could blow the fuse in your multi-meter. it's best to check it with a higher amp meter to make sure it's 10amps or less before doing it the way Gideon said. highdesertranger
Something is definitely pulling power from the battery even when everything is off. I would suggest you try what Gideon suggests to try to isolate the issue. If you can take a little time to explore it then it could save you a lot of money so you don't have to have someone else do it. There are also some great videos on YouTube about finding a parasitic draw on your battery. Mostly they will walk you through the steps Gideon is suggesting you do.
Gideon33w
Well-known member
highdesertranger said:
Good point. Though, once upon a time, I tested the same thing with just wire. If it didn't spark I knew I found the culprit ... lol
Gideon33w
Well-known member
Also, if you want to skip a few steps, test the fuse for the radio and the fuse for the interior lights first. 9 out of 10 it's one of those two.
Mind you, if you've been having issues with something (like gauge cluster backlights for example) find/test that fuse first.
Mind you, if you've been having issues with something (like gauge cluster backlights for example) find/test that fuse first.
Need to know if the battery is re-charging.
Rule out the alternator.
Check main ground wires.
Check leads going to the starter and starter solenoid.
Sometimes a "click" can be comfused with a froze starter/solenoid.
After that, the process gideon33w listed is the correct way to troubleshoot.
Rule out the alternator.
Check main ground wires.
Check leads going to the starter and starter solenoid.
Sometimes a "click" can be comfused with a froze starter/solenoid.
After that, the process gideon33w listed is the correct way to troubleshoot.
highdesertranger
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the OP said the alternator has been replaced and I assumed the charging system was checked then. but you know what happens when you assume.
I totally forgot an important point. this just happened a couple of months ago. someone with a Toyota pick-up was having the same problem and they had the alternator replaced and several batteries. they asked me to look at it we got it started I hooked up my meter and the alternator was charging so I sent them on their way. next day same thing dead battery. I checked it again and it was charging, so I reached down and grabbed the three small wires going to the alternator and wiggled them. well what do you know, there was a short in that pigtail. you could wiggle it to start and stop the charging. ordered a pigtail installed it and the problem was gone. shorts can be tricky to find keep an open mind and don't overlook the obvious. highdesertranger
I totally forgot an important point. this just happened a couple of months ago. someone with a Toyota pick-up was having the same problem and they had the alternator replaced and several batteries. they asked me to look at it we got it started I hooked up my meter and the alternator was charging so I sent them on their way. next day same thing dead battery. I checked it again and it was charging, so I reached down and grabbed the three small wires going to the alternator and wiggled them. well what do you know, there was a short in that pigtail. you could wiggle it to start and stop the charging. ordered a pigtail installed it and the problem was gone. shorts can be tricky to find keep an open mind and don't overlook the obvious. highdesertranger
Gideon33w
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She took it to a shop already and had the alternator replaced.
Also, if you read back, it takes a few days to kill the battery ...
Also, if you read back, it takes a few days to kill the battery ...
HumbleBeginnings
Well-known member
Yes, but the OP also said this:
For me, a voltage reading 15-20 after shutting off the vehicle after a long drive is the next piece of info I would want to see. You can't kill a battery from parasitic drain if it's disconnected.
Karma said:
For me, a voltage reading 15-20 after shutting off the vehicle after a long drive is the next piece of info I would want to see. You can't kill a battery from parasitic drain if it's disconnected.
highdesertranger
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the alternator was replaced in the Toyota I looked at too and also it's been pointed out that even with the battery disconnected it wouldn't start the next day. highdesertranger
Things arent adding up...
Can you explain how you disconnected the battery overnight. If its discharging on its own then there is no point in chasing vehicle problems.
Your engine is a 22r, is it a single starting battery or was it converted to a dual battery setup? Is there any way the engine batteries are tied to the house batteries?
How long have you owned it?
Can you explain how you disconnected the battery overnight. If its discharging on its own then there is no point in chasing vehicle problems.
Your engine is a 22r, is it a single starting battery or was it converted to a dual battery setup? Is there any way the engine batteries are tied to the house batteries?
How long have you owned it?
