each new battery drained, our solution Options

[firefly]

Our 1998 Celica GT ran beautifully for a year or two after we bought it, then suddenly the battery began dying at odd times, sometimes after a few weeks or a month; sometimes overnight; other times after having been driven and parked for as little as 20 minutes! After three successive new batteries, repeated measurements of each battery's functionality (always just fine, thanks), and intense tests and examinations by several mechanics, the battery gremlin continued to drain each new battery at random times, and no one seemed able to find the gremlin's hiding place. In the end, a mechanic suggested that we try purchasing a $35 battery maintainer and plug it into the Celica's battery each night. We did this, and it has solved the problem without too much fuss; I just have to unplug the maintainer and shut the hood before driving the car each day. I still wonder what causes this maddening issue, but I'm grateful I can enjoy my car again.

[Special_Edy]

Do a parasitic battery drain test.

With the ignition off, remove the negative battery cable and connect a multimeter's probes to the negative terminal of the battery and the negative cable/clamp. Now set the multimeter to measure milliamps in DC. There should be maybe 10 milliamps with everything on the car shut off, if you have significantly more you need to pull the fuses one by one until you find the fuse that causes the drain to drop to normal levels. Make sure not to power the car on or turn on the interior dome light while performing this test, the multimeter can usually only handle 1-10amps before the internal fuse blows to prevent damage.

This post has been edited by Special_Edy: Sep 17, 2013 - 11:35 AM