electrical problems

[asctoy]

does anyone know what the hell could be keeping my car from keeping a proper charge.
int the morning or just some times when i leave it sit for any time not running something happens the car has voltage just not enough to turn the engine over

It has a good battery and no shorted wires the alternater charges when the engine is running just fine. im stumped at this point i could use som advice by the way it is a 87 gt-s

[toyomoho]

Usually when a battery starts acting this way it has failed and needs replacing. But first, clean the battery terminals. Get a cheap volt/amp meter and check the voltage at the battery engine off and on. When off is should be around 12.6-.8v (for 80-100% charge), with engine on about 14-14.5v (alternator is thus working).

There may also be something electrical drawing more power then normal with the engine is off and draining the battery. Use the amp meter to the determine current draw from the battery with everything turned off accept for the usual clock, theft protection system (if you have), etc. The current load should be extremely small.

Or when parking the car overnight, remove the negative battery terminal. See if you have the same problem starting the car in the morning. If so, it is the battery.