Interior light left on

[Ryan F.]

Stupid deal...Accidentally left one of my interior lights in the "On" position for about an hour. Started and ran fine. Voltmeter reads in the center position. Operating on the assumption that my battery is fine, and that the alternator recharged it, my question becomes...How long would such a light have to be on in order to drain the battery, and would the voltmeter read low if my battery was in trouble? I know this sounds stupid, but work with me here.

 

[ciaz]

I think they turn off after a certain amount of time.

Also, my volt meter has never been perfectly in the middle. It's always been just under the middle notch. Is something wrong?

 

[san~man]

You probably "shortened" the life a little, but since the battery is still essentially new I wouldn't worry. It should still hold a full charge, and I would take the dash meter's reading with a grain of salt.

An hour isn't that bad. I'm assuming it started fine on the first try?

 

[philsey]

I've left both map lights on all night, nothing to be concerned about.

 

[Ryan F.]

I've left both map lights on all night, nothing to be concerned about.

Thanks philsey. That's pretty much what I thought.

 

[rsarrami]

Stupid deal...Accidentally left one of my interior lights in the "On" position for about an hour. Started and ran fine. Voltmeter reads in the center position. Operating on the assumption that my battery is fine, and that the alternator recharged it, my question becomes...How long would such a light have to be on in order to drain the battery, and would the voltmeter read low if my battery was in trouble? I know this sounds stupid, but work with me here.

Left the dome light over night, twice
Left the two tail lights on for two days, once
It does not effect the battery life as long as you have a good battery and alternator to charge it.

 

[kingpin748]

Get some LEDs. I left my interior on for a week while I was away and the battery was fine.

 

[Mark86]

A parking garage in NY once left my key in the ACC position for 3 hours and my truck started up without an issue. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Uneek]

I think they turn off after a certain amount of time.

Also, my volt meter has never been perfectly in the middle. It's always been just under the middle notch. Is something wrong?

The 4th gen turns them off after 20 minutes. Actually, power is cut to the lights after 20 minutes. I found out after having to sleep in the 4Runner when a snow storm shut the highway down and I clicked the map lights to find they didn't respond.