Battery geting discharged - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

phenixphyre · 11-15-2011, 10:02 AM

The battery on my 1990 Camry LE keeps discharging. Does anyone have any ideas how to check what is discharging the battery? Has anyone heard of this before??

71Corolla · 11-15-2011, 11:18 AM

It happens all the time. When I bought my '90, the car had a battery maintainer bolted under the hood because the battery kept going dead, they plugged the car in every night. Turns out the stereo was bad and was always drawing full power even when the car was turned off.

To test what is draining the battery, get yourself an amp meter (most test meters have one built in) and see what the current draw is with the car off. Then you can start pulling fuses until the draw goes away.

white90dx · 11-15-2011, 01:52 PM

Stay with me here... are you sure you are turning the car off when you remove the key? Worn keys and lock cylinders allow the key to be removed in any position. Originally, you had to press the small black button just above the key to turn the key to the 'lock' position and remove it. If you don't press that button but remove the key, you will leave the car in the accessory position and drain the battery.

If that's not the case, follow the advice of 71Corolla to find the source of the problem.

-Charlie

phenixphyre · 11-15-2011, 02:02 PM

Charlie,

There is no black button by the ignition, I will have to verify this but I am 90% sure its not there.

***Zembonez*** · 11-15-2011, 02:39 PM

First thing to check is the battery. Have it load tested at an auto parts store. If it proves to be OK, then you can move on to finding the drain. If the battery is the issue, you don't want to chase down nonexistent drains...

white90dx · 11-15-2011, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phenixphyre

Charlie,

There is no black button by the ignition, I will have to verify this but I am 90% sure its not there.

I gare-own-tee there is one. Right on the top of the ignition column above the key. Press the key, turn the key all the way back and you won't have any more discharge problems. (well, most likely... I have seen some sticky relays, etc.)

-Charlie

phenixphyre · 02-29-2012, 10:15 PM

White90dx - you were right I looked over the wiring diagram for the past week and testing a ton of things. I found the black button and it solved the issue!

Thank you for your input!!!!