Charging problems

Tiny
TERIEADS
  • MEMBER
  • 1995 TOYOTA CAMRY
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 240,000 MILES
Replaced battery and alternator and car won’t keep a charge longer than a couple of days. Please help
Tuesday, June 18th, 2019 AT 8:49 PM

4 Replies

Tiny
NEIL2002CIVIC
  • MEMBER
  • 117 POSTS
Hi is it charging if it is then you have a draw on the battery and have to isolate it i've seen double fillament bulb in the wrong socket and vise versa I changed a bunch of lamp drivers it's the yellow box in the trun useualy left side
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Wednesday, June 19th, 2019 AT 12:13 AM
Tiny
TERIEADS
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
I have replaced the alternator and five batteries in the last month.
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Wednesday, June 19th, 2019 AT 7:47 AM
Tiny
NEIL2002CIVIC
  • MEMBER
  • 117 POSTS
On a car that old you may need to check all the grounds maybe rusted Does the battery terminal spark when connected? If so you have a possible short or something is staying on ex trunk light. Have you tested it for a voltage draw? Terminals should not spark when connected. Batteries are going bad because of a no charge or voltage draw problem Did you check to see if it's even charging? If it's not charging start looking at the grounds fuses the connector at the alternator. Do the brake and alternator dash lights work?
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Wednesday, June 19th, 2019 AT 9:32 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,645 POSTS
Welcome to 2CarPros.

If the battery is going dead when the car sits, it sounds like what is called a parasitic draw. Take a look through this link. It discusses the most common causes for this type of issue.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-battery-dead-overnight

I need you to also confirm that the alternator is doing its job. Here is a link that explains how to test an alternator:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-a-car-alternator

You will need a volt or multi meter to test the alternator. If you find that it isn't replacing the charge in the battery, let me know.

Here is a link that shows how to do basic wire testing and use a volt meter:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-wiring

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-use-a-voltmeter

Next, confirm the alt s fuse is good in the under hood fuse box. See pictures 1 and 2. Picture 1 shows the entire fuse box and in picture 2 I circled the fuse. Here are a few links you may find helpful:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-a-car-fuse-works

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-a-car-fuse

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-use-a-test-light-circuit-tester

I also need you to test for power for the main alternator fuse in the same box. If you look at picture 3, it shows power goes through a fusible link. It looks like a wire, but it functions as a fuse. Check that fuse as well as you need to confirm that link hasn't failed. You should have power at the fuse if the link is good.

Either we have something drawing power all the time or the alternator isn't able to do its job. There are specific wires called fusible links that can fail and not allow the alt to charge the battery, so let me know the results of the above tests and I will direct you as to what needs done next.

Let me know if that helps or if you have other questions.

Take care,
Joe
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Wednesday, June 19th, 2019 AT 10:50 PM

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