Map Light Mod Gone Wrong

[4boer2]

Hello everyone, here is the problem. My battery tends to drain its reserve power very quickly. Just today I was vacuuming for 20 minutes and it would not start an hour later. Only the doors were open, the radio wasn't on, key not in the ignition, and the vacuum was plugged into the garage. Are the lights that are not normally on the cause? The battery is about two years old. It passed the 'battery test' at Autozone and Pepboys. I must admit that I did a crude job of wiring the mod, but that shouldn't matter, right?

Thoughts: New battery or undo the mod?

FYI: I do not have interior leds

 

[beeftube]

I am trying to understand how the vacuum fits into this whole thing

 

[gaterose]

I am trying to understand how the vacuum fits into this whole thing

I think he was making sure you didn't think the vacuum was plugged into the 4Runner(?)

You may need to make sure the wire hasn't been crushed/pinched and cut. That could cause a small short that may cause the battery to drain.

 

[4boer2]

Thanks for the suggestion

Ya I just mentioned the vacuum for a back story.

 

[4Runners]

A crude wiring job could definitely drain battery or even blow fuses. Trust me. It happened with my radio recently. I had to undo everything and redo the wiring right.

 

[4boer2]

I guess I will re-wire it (my bad wiring excuse is that it was my first mod.)

 

[riceandpho]

So im guessing u have about 4 lights all on all at once? U might want to try leds.

 

[mikebontoft]

So im guessing u have about 4 lights all on all at once? U might want to try leds.

if its a crappy connection it may try to pull more amperage than necessary but just under that of the rated fuse. I usually try to turn off as many lights as I can when cleaning it out.

 

[4boer2]

So im guessing u have about 4 lights all on all at once? U might want to try leds.

5 actually :nerd:



The battery died again. But this time, it was just parked. The doors couldn't have been open for more than a minute. This brought up a question: can a battery just lose all of its power randomly? I'm sure my wiring caused a short (yes, I will rip it out for sure this weekend), but I just thought I'd ask.

Thanks and pardon my lack of wiring knowledge.

 

[riceandpho]

So u must have that rear entertainment system? The dvd player in the back. How old is the battery anyway? Did anybstereo upgrade too? Also check your other mods that u did before and after the map light mod, do u also have a ac power inverter, the 115v button?

 

[riceandpho]

Also when the battery drained more that twice, its time for a new battery, its not going to hold charge like a fresh new one.

 

[4boer2]

Update

I undid all the wiring today, so I'll see if the battery keeps draining or not. However, I need two more of these one of them was bent (in the picture) and another got itself lost in the frame of the body. Part number or is that a general part I could get at a store?

Stereo Mods? none
Rear DVD? it is an infared radio, but I don't have the headphones and it never gets used.
Other Mods? I do have the Fog light mod...
Battery Drains? Three year old Bosch. This is actually the fifth time it's happened. I really think it's the battery now. Maybe the cold is getting to it. (recomendations welcome :bigok
Inverter? yes

 

[BRIAN4R]

put a volt meter on the battery and see where your at with the key off, to engine running. Is there a draw from the battery with the key off? Make sure you have proper alternator voltage and your ground cable is clean. If that all looks good, I'd put everything back to stock and start over.

 

[20034RunnerV84x2]

I say new battery. I personally have an interstate battery and it starts every time. I can clean it the whole day (8 hours, doors hope, closed, in ACC for radio, random lights on, etc and it'll still Start. Highly recommend interstate.

 

[R.A.]

Part number or is that a general part I could get at a store?

90468-05125 is the clip part number according to this post:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/accessories/29355-those-installed-homelink-overhead-console.html

(Post #9)

 

[theelectrician]

How old is your battery? If it hasn't been replaced in a while I am not surprised that it drained so quickly.

put a volt meter on the battery and see where your at with the key off, to engine running. Is there a draw from the battery with the key off? Make sure you have proper alternator voltage and your ground cable is clean. If that all looks good, I'd put everything back to stock and start over.

A voltmeter will not tell you if there is any draw on the battery, you'll need an ammeter for that, and know how to use it.

 

[4boer2]

For anyone wondering, I replaced the battery, problem solved.

 

[Stuck CAPS]

I undid all the wiring today, so I'll see if the battery keeps draining or not. However, I need two more of these one of them was bent (in the picture) and another got itself lost in the frame of the body. Part number or is that a general part I could get at a store?

Stereo Mods? none
Rear DVD? it is an infared radio, but I don't have the headphones and it never gets used.
Other Mods? I do have the Fog light mod...
Battery Drains? Three year old Bosch. This is actually the fifth time it's happened. I really think it's the battery now. Maybe the cold is getting to it. (recomendations welcome :bigok
Inverter? yes

I'd say get a second battery wired up. It's always helpful, and you can also check right away if it's your battery that's damaged. This write-up was pretty helpful.

 

[4boer2]

I'd say get a second battery wired up. It's always helpful, and you can also check right away if it's your battery that's damaged. This write-up was pretty helpful.

The battery did keep draining after I undid the wring (I did re-do it), so that was the final hint. Living in Chicago, I have no reason for dual batteries, but thanks for the idea anyway.

I got a Costco battery in case anyone was wondering.