2002 Rav4 Battery Keeps Draining, Could this be a short?

SOURCE: 2002 gmc sierra 1500 HD battery keeps draining

Hello, You need to disconnect the Battery and use an Ohmmeter to find the drain. Just hook the Ohmmeter to the disconnected Battery cables and see what reading you get.

There are several ways of doing this test. But with the Ohmmeter all set to work, turn your Ignition key a couple of times and see if it is shutting off or not. That switch is the most used switch on the truck. May be a cheap shot at fixing the problem for $20 or less.

Unfortunately you now have to systematically disconnect the circuits if that is not the problem.

You are trying to find a grounded wire or part. Turn off the dash controls to the heater/A/C system. Note if the Ohmmeter changes.

When you find the problem circuit, the Ohmmeter will indicate something is grounded when it should not be connected. You can try making a fuse list and pull fuses until you find one which affects the Ohmmeter. That circuit should be investigated further.

If the fused circuit you eliminated goes to something like power seats or windows, or a mirror, just leave it unfused and see if your problem goes away. Restore the other fuses you removed, keep the list and homemade diagram.

There are also Relays in the fuse boxes. What people do not realize about them is they have more than one set of contacts and provide BOTH ground and power terminals. This means something can be grounded through a Relay if the points stick. Since another Relay in the series may depend on being Grounded to work, you have a situation where a second Relay in a series is still turned ON because the points in the first Relay stuck. When the first defective Relay is powered down, the second Relay remains on and is draining your Battery.

There is also another way to test the Relays and remaining devices. There are now cheaper Temperature Lasers at Harbor Freight and Sears. When you have a power drain it creates heat. You should be able to use the Temperature laser to detect if a Relay or part is turned on. This would require the truck to be parked and have a charged Battery connected. It will not work for a concealed motor like a window motor or Power seat motor.

I hope my suggestions are helpful to you.

SOURCE: battery drain

Check the (red) + battery cable where it crosses over the metal power steering lines at bottom of radiator....very hard to detect .....over a peroid of time the insulation will wear thru....making contact with steel lines causing a battery drain just as you have indicated...clean cable in this area....use a inspection mirror and a flashlight.....the insulation will be worn off on underside of cable...you will be able to feel worn area with fingers....wrap area well with electrical tape ....Good Luck...

C. E. Cecil

SOURCE: a short?

Hi! U need to check the electrical system.Some thing is shorting out(going to earth) causing the battery to go dead.

SOURCE: battery keeps going dead. 06 ls430

With the engin not running and the key off, lift the hood and disconnect the positive lead on the battery. Then touch the lead back to positive terminal on the battery. If a spark is seen, there is something still on in the car. Could be the power mirror switch, seat heaters or even a car phone. Trial and error to find it.

Sorry I can't be more specific but that is the test.

Good luck.

SOURCE: 2001 bmw wagon , last

it is a possibility that it is bad or the ignition switch. cause a bad ignition switch will not send voltage for starter to start. an ignition switch handles a bout 50% of all voltage needs. the safety switch does it start in nuetral, or any other gear! if it starts in any other gear then it is out of adjustment. or needs replaced. first check and see if you have voltage from battery to starter, if so, check small ignition wire at starter. either wire could be bad also.