Battery Drained overnight. What should I check?

[mtncrzr]

Battery is 1 year new, heavy duty.
Drained dead completely, after a couple of days while not used. No dash lights, nada.
Previous drive was just a couple of miles, so I think it's a current drain issue and not a charging issue.

There are no aftermarket electronics, sound, etc.
Battery terminals and wires are clean and tight.
Wasn't banging around on trails so nothing should be knocked loose/shorted.

Once the battery is re-charged, I'll test the alternator for 14V, check visually for any loose wires (not an expert at spotting them as I spend more time in the driver's seat than under the hood)

And then I guess a parasitic draw test
(using voltmeter, pull fuses 1x1 to check which circuit is draining) >
How to Find a Parasitic Battery Drain: 11 Steps (with Pictures)

Is there anything I should check first?
Maybe a relay, or anything else that is known for shorting out?

Thanks!

 

[wcjeep]

Check the metal tips of the fuses for voltage. Looking for changes of micro volts. If your meter is sensitive enough it will see voltage change across the fuse during high amp draw. Good reading is zero volts across a fuse.

Or, pull the negative cable. Place your multimeter in Amperage setting. Some meters require physically moving a lead on the meter. Place one lead on negative cable, second lead on the battery. This will read all amperage draw from the battery. Some vehicles can take upto 30minutes for all normal battery draw operations to end. Not sure on 3rd gen normal draw. Expect around .02 amps or less for normal parasetic draw. This powers engine computer and stereo clock. Be sure all car doors remain closed. All lights including dome and under hood remain off. Opening the door might restart your 30min stand down timer. Start pulling fuses until problem goes away. This isolates the problem circuit.

Infrared tech can see the heat from high draw items.

 

[davidch]

Charge the battery well. Then unplug the radio/cassette/etc unit.

You cannot just pull the radio fuse: the radio gets power 24/7. Why? Well, to maintain the preselected stations, and maybe the clock if the unit has one.

Also, and one doesn't typically think of this, but you can eject cassettes or CDs without inserting the key and having the ignition on. Now, you can't feed a cassette or CD into the device, but it takes power to eject.

My wife's 2002 Outback had a parasitic draw that I narrowed down to the CD player. On that vehicle, as on some Toyotas, the CD is a separate unit from the radio/cassette. A few years ago a neighbor's kid was driving a 2006 Honda Accord. It too, had a parasitic draw that I traced to the radio unit. On that car, the radio is build into the dash unit that also controls HVAC. Replacing was too expensive give the value and intent of the car. So I installed a toggle switch under the dash and wired the 24/7 radio feed through that. The kid has to remember to turn that switch off when parking the car.

 

[thennen]

Check for parasitic drain first. Could be that.

This can also be an early sign of worn alternator brushes. Simple to replace, and easy to see visually if they're worn. If they have near 200k miles on them, replace. $20.00

 

[Atomic_Dog]

I would still get the battery checked first. It's the easiest thing to check.

 

[RodrickHeffley]

I believe we're all overlooking that OP is looking for support for a 5th gen. This is the 3rd gen section. [MENTION=123509]mtncrzr[/MENTION], try posting this in the 5th gen section. They can help you better than we can.

 

[AuSeeker]

I believe we're all overlooking that OP is looking for support for a 5th gen. This is the 3rd gen section. [MENTION=123509]mtncrzr[/MENTION], try posting this in the 5th gen section. They can help you better than we can.

Where did everyone overlook that, I don't see where he stated what year and all of his other posts on the forum is in the 3rd Gen section??

 

[Hungryhawk]

Note the power seat controls are always on because I can adjust my seat from my wife' setting to mine without turning the key.
Seat covers can press on the switches. The wires are loose under the seat, any chance something got caught?

 

[RodrickHeffley]

Where did everyone overlook that, I don't see where he stated what year and all of his other posts on the forum is in the 3rd Gen section??

He posted this twice, at the top of the other post (same exact battery problem as this thread), he mentioned the year as being 2018

 

[AuSeeker]

He posted this twice, at the top of the other post (same exact battery problem as this thread), he mentioned the year as being 2018

So we all didn't overlook it...only those who may have seen the other thread.

I just went and read the other thread, it actually says... "2018 4X", didn't really state that it's a problem with a 2018 T4R ...what that means is anybody's guess, does it mean he has 4 2018 T4Rs with battery problems....or did he have this battery problem 4X since 2018...or with 4 different batteries...who knows other than the OP, maybe he'll stop back by and explain...again who knows!!

 

[Doc995]

Check that battery and check it again....I cannot tell you how many bad-out-of-the-box batteries i've experienced over the past few years. i don't know what they're doing but their quality is terrible lately.