How long does it take for your battery to drain?

[Rory]

I dont use my tubby too much. Lately ive found I only use it at weekends and sometimes I dont start it for a few weeks at a time. Ive found that if i dont use if for about 5 days the battery drains and i cant start the car. When I first got the car it used to take a few weeks for the battery to go completely flat. After I let that battery go completely flat about 10 times in the space of 6 months if decided it would no longer take any charge. Ive now fitted another battery (not new) and it runs flat if I dont use it for a week. Ive got a LEA825 alarm fitted so expect some drain. Does this sound normal or do you guys think ive got a problem. PS its fine when i use it every day so I know the alternator is charging the batt.

Rory

[gmtc]

sounds normal to me. I have a newish battery and a cobra alarm and mine drains in 4 or 5 days.

[Raf]

because the battery doesnt get charged up often enough and the fact that its gone flat a few times it would not hold the charge properly. Its normal really but can be sorted with a new battery. Or check the acid level as on some batteries you can top them up using de-ionised water which usually helps!

[Ed]

Hi Rory

I had exactly the same problem as you. I had installed a brand new battery and not used the car for two or three weeks and the battery was dead when I came to next start the car.

The reason for this is the LEA 825 alarm. I had a word with Dan from DCdezign about this to see if the alarm was to blame. Here is his reply

Hello mate,

That is normal. The alarm is constantly monitoring and tranmitting to the keyfob etc. and it will drain the battery if left undriven for a long period of time. If you are seldomn driviong the car, then you could use the daily autostart to keep the battery topped up.

Dan

The only options available to you are to disconnect the battery(not ideal), set the autostart feature to start the car each week or to drive it more often. Mine is off the road at the moment whilst I am changing the suspension etc. so I have disconnected my battery.

HTH Ed

[shafster]

when my TRD came over from hong kong, the battery was disconnected as it would of been dead by the time it got here if left connected.

although i havent driven mine for 2 weeks now, the battery still seems fine, might start it up for 10 mins tonight just in case

[Rory]

Will letting my car tick over for 10 mins every other day be enough to keep the battery charged?

Rory

[Baker]

20-25 mins every 3/4 days would be more preferable i reckon.

[BenF]

Will letting my car tick over for 10 mins every other day be enough to keep the battery charged?

Rory

A general rule of thumb - it takes about 15-20 minutes to put back into the battery what you've taken out of it in starting the engine.

I'd consider disconnecting the battery if you're going to leave the car laid up for a long period, or leaving it on a trickle charger if its in a garage with a power socket nearby.

FWIW my old Mk2 was fine with a GT alarm with Ultrasonics for upto a week - started no problem. The Mk1 I'm driving at the moment has stood for two weeks and started fine - but it doesn't have any ultrasonics though.

[chris99]

Will letting my car tick over for 10 mins every other day be enough to keep the battery charged?

Rory

I doubt it mate. Get out and drive it.

[weevill]

I had problems with battery drain recently and eventually had to buy a new one when it died completely - then that started dying too. The cause turned out to be the courtesy light in the "boot", that had become permanently stuck on. I removed the bulb and the problem went with it. I have since had to give up reading the paper in the "boot", but it seems a small price to pay...

[telmk2]

I use my 2, only at weekends and oftern leave it for 2/3 weeks without starting her, allways starts first time......lucky me

[Jay]

My battery was flat as a pancake after 3 days, so i changed it, i leave it about 7 - 10 days before driving it (days off) on average, but she starts fine,

I think its cause she happy to see me

Jay

[DeusMR2]

Yeah I've got a 2-way remote alarm on mine aswell (Mannix) and the car will be hard to start after 2-3 days of not being used, glad to know its normal!

[steve b]

strange not normal i'd have said, means if you left the car alarmed at say an airport car park no questions it'd be dead after your 2 week hols. I've never found mine to be dead with stock toyota alarm. Its only a weekend car so doesn't get started for 5 days at a time regularly and often 14 days at a time. Never had a problem.