Cannot find battery drain - any suggestions?

TheExplorer

TheExplorer

Member
I have a 2002 4runner SR5 and I have a 1.26 amp drain on my battery which I can not find.

On the negative side of the battery I used an amp meter and pulled all the fuses one by one in the engine compartment and under the dash and there was no change in the draw.

Is there by chance another fuse box that I am not seeing?

Any other suggestions?


Thanks
 
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Did you check the alternator draw? remove the wire plug and 12V live wire (10 mm bolt) from the alternator and check again. Remove the battery ground post before you remove the 12V ground wire mounted on the alternator.
 
TheExplorer said:
I have a 2002 4runner SR5 and I have a 1.26 amp drain on my battery which I can not find.

On the negative side of the battery I used an amp meter and pulled all the fuses one by one in the engine compartment and under the dash and there was no change in the draw.

Is there by chance another fuse box that I am not seeing?

Any other suggestions?


Thanks
Click to expand...

You should have seen a change when removing the fuse for the radio since it's constantly drawing.

Here's the best video for finding a parasitic drain.
YouTube
 
my parasitic draw ended up being a back window de-fogger, pulling the fuse didn't clear it.....pulling the relay did.
 
nissanh said:
Did you check the alternator draw? remove the wire plug and 12V live wire (10 mm bolt) from the alternator and check again. Remove the battery ground post before you remove the 12V ground wire mounted on the alternator.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I just did this and this was not the issue :(
 
baja1 said:
my parasitic draw ended up being a back window de-fogger, pulling the fuse didn't clear it.....pulling the relay did.
Click to expand...

Just finished doing this and no luck. I will go through them all again tomorrow in case I missed something, (fuses, relays, alt)
Thanks
 
I'm no expert, just trying to think of the odd thing that could fail that might not be fused in the usual fashion, and I thought about trailer circuitry. I found this - "there's a splitter box in the drivers side panel back in the cargo area" and this - "towing converter relay (81985-35010) behind the left side rear cargo panel". These guys may be referring to the same part. Perhaps try disconnecting any wiring for that?

Plus, any aftermarket add-ons that may have failed?
 
Update: I have not found/solved the problem yet however I was out tonight and I noticed that my 3rd eye brake light was on even though the truck was turned off.

When I pushed the brake pedal it went out and the two main brain lights came on. When I released the brake pedal the 3rd eye came back on. So for now I have diconnected the light.

At least I know where I am to look now.
 
Check the wire harness that goes to the rear hatch.

For reference, here's a thread discussing it: (Go to page 2 for pics. My problem was different, but the cause could be the same -- it's a somewhat common issue as these rigs get up in age.)

'02 T4R Rear Defrost
 
I agree, check the harness, specifically that rubber boot.
I had 2 wires break cleanly there (effectively killing my rear window and wipers), and a 3rd wire had stripping insulation and was shorting, which was causing my 3rd brake light to go crazy (and actually caused a CEL).
I just spliced in 3 new wires and it solved the problem. Took me maybe 30 minutes during a lunch break.
 
Last edited:
tvpierce said:
Check the wire harness that goes to the rear hatch.

For reference, here's a thread discussing it: (Go to page 2 for pics. My problem was different, but the cause could be the same -- it's a somewhat common issue as these rigs get up in age.)

'02 T4R Rear Defrost
Click to expand...

Thank you very much, this was the first place that I looked and well the picture speaks for itself, now to repair it which should be straight forward.


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