my batt keeps being drained!, Suggestions Options

[ArizonaRed]

Didnt mod anything for this $hit to start happening. I was doing my weekly drive out of state on i75 and my lights dim and my cd player goes dead, everything dying. I pull the car off to gas station and car dies after all lights go out (this is at night). I figure its the alternator and figure it drained my batt. I go across the street (thank God for walmarts) at 2am and buy the best batt they got. put that in and drive home. Take it to a Midas shop and they check system and tell me alternator is fine and my batt was old so it took a dump. im like ok cool. same thing happens 2 weeks later, WTF? Another batt dead. This time i got it recharged but havent hooked it up yet. The celi is sitting around without power. Whats wrong with the car? (Also to note i took the car to a jiffy lube before the disaster and saw the guy spray my engine) could that have shorted something out? Even so the shop (Midas) said my alt and elec system were fine. The alternator was replaced two years ago so its fairly new. Any ideas?

OK i found This discussion but I dont think thats the problem. Anything besides this?

This post has been edited by ArizonaRed: Nov 17, 2006 - 7:33 PM

[coldbluesteel]

Ok I had a similar problem in my 4runner. It sat for about 1 1/2 weeks and I guess I left a light on inside or something cause when I went to start it, no go. I got a jump, drove awhile letting the alt recharge the batt. Well had to get a jump again, so I drove for like an hour and it started for the rest of the night. Went to start in the morning and it barley turned over. Went to auto store and had it checked, they said it was a little drained but the batt was still good. drove around all day and it never seemed to charge up. Always had a problem starting. So time for a new batt, I went a new red top Optima. Put it in and it didn't start! The guy at auto store jumped it and said it may have sat on the shelf too long. It was the only one they had and it was late so I kept it. Next morning truck doesn't start, get a jump, go to another location and do an exchange. Turns out it was a defective batt. New one in and it is perfect. Truck seems to run smother too.

So I'm not sure if this helps but get your batt tested to see if it's holding a charge and go from there.

[Enrique]

Make sure you dont set the batt on the ground for to long.......your batt will ground out and have problems keping a charge....Had same problem with two red tops.....

[ArizonaRed]

Ok I had a similar problem in my 4runner. It sat for about 1 1/2 weeks and I guess I left a light on inside or something cause when I went to start it, no go. I got a jump, drove awhile letting the alt recharge the batt. Well had to get a jump again, so I drove for like an hour and it started for the rest of the night. Went to start in the morning and it barley turned over. Went to auto store and had it checked, they said it was a little drained but the batt was still good. drove around all day and it never seemed to charge up. Always had a problem starting. So time for a new batt, I went a new red top Optima. Put it in and it didn't start! The guy at auto store jumped it and said it may have sat on the shelf too long. It was the only one they had and it was late so I kept it. Next morning truck doesn't start, get a jump, go to another location and do an exchange. Turns out it was a defective batt. New one in and it is perfect. Truck seems to run smother too.

So I'm not sure if this helps but get your batt tested to see if it's holding a charge and go from there.

The batt was tested and holds factory charge. No lights/devices were left on either.

Make sure you dont set the batt on the ground for to long.......your batt will ground out and have problems keping a charge....Had same problem with two red tops.....

never heard of that. the electricity cant pass through the plastic so i dont think it would ground out unless the terminals were touching the ground. If that the case then they couldnt sit the batts in the stores cuz it would be grounded, especially in those metal shelves.

im gonna take it to the dealership today

[ArizonaRed]

It is fixed, all is well. Toyota dealership said it needed new alternator and said that the Midas place didnt do a thourough enough check. They said it would cost over $440. I instead got my own new alternator and had them install it for me which came to $265 total.