Battery died, why? *solved*

Hi guys,

Today while driving, some lights came on the dash randomly. After driving at night for a bit, all lights came on then died down and realized the battery is dead, even power steering got stiffer. The battery is brand new, just 2 months old.

What do I look for? Terminals on the battery are ok and alternator belt seems fine.

Car has Mine's ECU, upgraded cd radio and just better door speakers, no big audio system.

Any thoughts?

Car alarm could be draining it? Or it could be the alternator isn't charging the battery.

Are you driving the car after a long period of it sitting around? Or was it fairly recent the last time you drove it?

Is it a sealed battery? Or one which needs water topping up? Check that if it is the ones where you top up water.

An finally (not sure if it applies to Canada) if it is under 1 year old then you have manufacture warranty to replace it if the cells are faulty.

Hope this is of some help.

Sounds like an alternator fault.

If it dies while driving and the battery is dead then it is not charging.

Go to sleep

Go to sleep

It's coming up to 11pm in Canada so you got a point Slam

I can't sleep over this... Lol

The battery is new and died while the car was driving so there is a charging issue. I will do the tip-ex test tomorrow and see if the crank pulley is bad. Doing some research it seems that the crank pulley goes bad very often on Supras..

Alternator is dead or something is preventing it from doing its job. Once the car is on you can actually remove the battery because the alternator powers the car. If the car dies while driving, you can pretty much rule out the battery.

Sounds like the altenator - mine went a few months ago and I had the same symptoms. Changed it and never had a problem since

I can't sleep over this... Lol

 

The battery is new and died while the car was driving so there is a charging issue. I will do the tip-ex test tomorrow and see if the crank pulley is bad. Doing some research it seems that the crank pulley goes bad very often on Supras..

If you suspect the alternator is not working (and it sounds like it isn't) then start by checking the alternator itself. THere's a how-to on here somewhere. I'll post up a link when I find it.

Here it is:

http://www.mkivsupra.net/vbb/showthread.php?285237-Oil-level-cat-temp-battery-and-rear-light-warniing-lamps-on!&p=3609249&viewfull=1#post3609249

Thanks guys. I am sure the alternator is the problem. The tricky part is to figure out if its the crank pulley or the alternator itself.

If the crank pulley is bad, will I see the belt moving slower?

I'd say altinator, SRD upgrade time

So I took the alternator out and going to get a replacement. Belt is turning and voltage was only 11.7. I noticed some white stuff on the connector, is it grease?

I noticed some white stuff on the connector, is it grease?

Yes it is. Did you do the regulator check, too?

I did not. There is a shop close to me that has rebuilt alternators.. Gonna go show this one to him and hopefully get a replacement.

The regulator is part of the alternator,right?

The regulator is part of the alternator,right?

Yes. I asked because when I checked replacement alternators for the Supra were expensive, but you might have been able to pick up a regualtor relatively cheaply if that's all that has gone.

It might respond to removing the brushes and either cleaning the slip rings and brush holder, or ideally renewing the brushes. If it needs a diode pack or regulator these are available from Toyota as spares. A half decent auto electrician can repair it. Also check the alternator grounding wire is intact, has clean connections and not missing.

I found a refurbished original alternator for $100 cdn so I think it's worth replacing the whole thing. That way I know it's fixed for sure.

Got the alternator refurbished and its back to normal. The regulator pack was bad..

Thanks for the help

Congrats!