Help - my battery is draining

[mir1]

Hi
Have a import Hilux SSR G TD Automatic which for the last year or so has a battery drain which means that after 10 hours the car won't start. I've tried replacing both batteries. The alternator is fine and charges both batteries correctly. However once switched off I'm losing charge and then both batteries are sitting below the required voltage.
Have currently got a mechanic looking at it and have sent him some wiring diagrams. Has anybody come across a similar problem or can advice where to logically start . He's hasn't found the drain over a few days.

[yoshie]

The alternator can charge the battery fine then when left can drain them. I have had this recently on a truck the volt tester showed the alt charging the battry fine 14v when running, after 3 differant battries I discovered the issue.

[MattF]

Disconnect one lead from the battery and place an Ammeter inline. You'll then see the current being drawn. Starting with the alternator, (as Yoshie suggests), disconnect things from the supply until you see the current draw on the meter drop noticably. Whatever you just disconnected is then your culprit. This is assuming that both batteries are indeed in good condition. One of those may well be the problem, even if they are fairly new. Also check all of the battery connections. You could possibly just have poor contact being made on the terminals, hence never receiving a decent charge.

[BigBobE]

Disconnect one lead from the battery and place an Ammeter inline. You'll then see the current being drawn. Starting with the alternator, (as Yoshie suggests), disconnect things from the supply until you see the current draw on the meter drop noticably. Whatever you just disconnected is then your culprit. This is assuming that both batteries are indeed in good condition. One of those may well be the problem, even if they are fairly new. Also check all of the battery connections. You could possibly just have poor contact being made on the terminals, hence never receiving a decent charge.

i got low battery sounds today, engine struggling to start and slow slow turning over, then remembered the + on the one battery was loose, tightened it and hey presto full power again.....

[BUSHWHACKER]

i got low battery sounds today, engine struggling to start and slow slow turning over, then remembered the + on the one battery was loose, tightened it and hey presto full power again.....

FFS!! that was over a week ago I told you to sort that out!

[MattF]

FFS!! that was over a week ago I told you to sort that out!

[charvell]

if you cant do what is suggested yourself take the truck to a good auto electrician,

[BigBobE]

FFS!! that was over a week ago I told you to sort that out!

i sorted starter, it was loose bolt, but i had one of the batteries out to start car the other day and never put battery clamp back on and was wondering what the new bang was everytime i went over speed ramps.... i tightened the bottom bolt on the starter, still trying to figure out how mu big hand are gonna get to top bolt :P and FYI i was just throwing loose battery terminal into pot as an idea to be checked :P anyway thanks for your slowly but surely building a strong good truck....

[Albannach]

i sorted starter, it was loose bolt,

One loose bolt wouldn't make the starter loose, they'd all need to be loose for that to happen.

[mir1]

Thanks for the Suggestions so far - I'll pass on advice

[Hazzo]

3-4 Days is my trucks limit, less during winter months 1/2 days, new batteries last winter so reckon its the immob draining mine. H

[T1z3R]

seems like i could be having similar problems.
was out in the truck on sat and all was fine then parked it up about tea on sat and went out tea time on sunday and it would turn over but wouldnt start. after turning it over no more than three times the batteries started to drain.

ive pulled them out and managed to charge one overnight but the others on charge just now. can the truck start from one battery if it came with two?

seems to have occurred just as we hit a very cold snap.

i hate electrical problems as i lack the common sense to work it out.
any suggestions on where to start?

[tintin]

I have an auto-electrician coming at 8am tomorow to do a full test on my 2.4.
The wife only uses it for short journeys during the week, so i end up having to charge one of the batts at least every 10 days.
Will let you know what he finds

Alan

[T1z3R]

well im glad to say that my better half fixed our truck this evening.
after fully charging both batteries and putting them in when we got home it just turned but wouldnt fire.

cos im a big girls blouse and feeling a little under the weather i gave up but the missus, after googling like mad suggested we try priming the fuel. low and behold it fired up

god i love her :P

[BUSHWHACKER]

well im glad to say that my better half fixed our truck this evening.
after fully charging both batteries and putting them in when we got home it just turned but wouldnt fire.

cos im a big girls blouse and feeling a little under the weather i gave up but the missus, after googling like mad suggested we try priming the fuel. low and behold it fired up

god i love her :P

Better give her the trousers to wear from now on then!