Car power dead

>   In this guy's case he doesn't know enough to even start to diagnose
> and fix his car.  I'd say jump start it, drive it to the shop and be
> sure to take the check book.   And he might want to consider a
> membership in AAA for future problems.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Firstly, I actually know more than you think but this time I am
flabbergasted because in little more than a day it does not even have
power for the immobiliser flashing LED
Secondly, I do have a volt meter but it is at my place of work and
need the car to go and collect it (D'oh)
Thirdly I do (or did) have a membership of a rescue service but the
wife forgot to renew it (her job) and it expired 2 days ago. That's
usually the case, innit?

The battery is about 4 years old and the alternator is only 1.5 years
old

That is why I thought it could be a broken connection, blown fuse or
something like that, but where?
 >> Stay informed about: Car power dead 

On Dec 2, 7:18 am, "JoeSpareBedroom" <newstr....DeleteThis@frontiernet.net>
wrote:
> "ransley" <Mark_Rans....DeleteThis@Yahoo.com> wrote in message
>
> news:f4366d6a-b498-461d-ac8d-12b59ba983b4@v42g2000yqv.googlegroups.com...
> On Dec 2, 5:44 am, peternoon <petern....DeleteThis@hotmail.co.uk> wrote:
>
> > I have a Celica 1995. The power is completely dead. I do not see how
> > the battery could have been discharged so quickly. It has been stopped
> > only for a day and a half. I checked and no lights were left on.
> > Where do I look first? How do I check if there is power in the battery
> > and something like a main fuse blew off or there is a cable
> > disconnected? I do no have a meter.
>
> > Thanks
>
> Are battery terminals tight. What does your handheld voltmeter say the
> battery is. 12v is about dead 12.8-13.3 fully charged. Put a charger
> on it and charge to 13.3v , clean cables and battery terminals and get
> it tested.
> ==============
>
> He said "I do no have a meter".

He needs one, or he is a guessin.
 >> Stay informed about: Car power dead 

On 2 Dec, 15:50, Hachiroku $B%O%A%m%/(B <Tru... RemoveThis @e86.GTS> wrote:


>
> Check under the hood for a fuse block.....

Thank you, I will try these things. I hope you are a Toyota
engineer.
 >> Stay informed about: Car power dead 

"ransley" <Mark_Ransley.TakeThisOut@Yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:f4366d6a-b498-461d-ac8d-12b59ba983b4@v42g2000yqv.googlegroups.com...
On Dec 2, 5:44 am, peternoon <petern....TakeThisOut@hotmail.co.uk> wrote:
> I have a Celica 1995. The power is completely dead. I do not see how
> the battery could have been discharged so quickly. It has been stopped
> only for a day and a half. I checked and no lights were left on.
> Where do I look first? How do I check if there is power in the battery
> and something like a main fuse blew off or there is a cable
> disconnected? I do no have a meter.
>
> Thanks

Are battery terminals tight. What does your handheld voltmeter say the
battery is. 12v is about dead 12.8-13.3 fully charged. Put a charger
on it and charge to 13.3v , clean cables and battery terminals and get
it tested.
==============

He said "I do no have a meter".
 >> Stay informed about: Car power dead 

"peternoon" <peternoon.TakeThisOut@hotmail.co.uk> wrote in message
news:f8986978-765b-47a7-8759-6b955576b5e0@v38g2000yqb.googlegroups.com...
>I have a Celica 1995. The power is completely dead. I do not see how
> the battery could have been discharged so quickly. It has been stopped
> only for a day and a half. I checked and no lights were left on.
> Where do I look first? How do I check if there is power in the battery
> and something like a main fuse blew off or there is a cable
> disconnected? I do no have a meter.
>
> Thanks
>
>

Go to Radio Shack or any home improvement store and get a meter. It doesn't
have to be expensive. If the battery's OK, then take the next step.
 >> Stay informed about: Car power dead 

On Tue, 2 Dec 2008 03:44:23 -0800 (PST), peternoon
<peternoon.RemoveThis@hotmail.co.uk> wrote:

>I have a Celica 1995. The power is completely dead. I do not see how
>the battery could have been discharged so quickly. It has been stopped
>only for a day and a half. I checked and no lights were left on.
>Where do I look first? How do I check if there is power in the battery
>and something like a main fuse blew off or there is a cable
>disconnected? I do no have a meter.
>
>Thanks
>

Without test equipment it is almost impossible to diagnose an
electrical problem. If your car has the original battery, then it is
about 13 years old. Your problem might be a bad battery but without a
way to test, you can't say for sure.

Jack j
 >> Stay informed about: Car power dead 

Retired VIP wrote:
> On Tue, 2 Dec 2008 03:44:23 -0800 (PST), peternoon
> <peternoon.TakeThisOut@hotmail.co.uk> wrote:
>
>> I have a Celica 1995. The power is completely dead. I do not see how
>> the battery could have been discharged so quickly. It has been stopped
>> only for a day and a half. I checked and no lights were left on.
>> Where do I look first? How do I check if there is power in the battery
>> and something like a main fuse blew off or there is a cable
>> disconnected? I do no have a meter.
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>
> Without test equipment it is almost impossible to diagnose an
> electrical problem. If your car has the original battery, then it is
> about 13 years old. Your problem might be a bad battery but without a
> way to test, you can't say for sure.
>
> Jack j
A gizmo like this is a very handy thing to have around when trouble
shooting the electrical and charging system. Just plug it into the
cigarette lighter and monitor the voltage. You can tell pretty quick if
the chaging system is working properly, once the car is running again. I
got something like it from Radio Shack years ago and still use it when
needed, and it's one of the few tools I don't loan out.
http://www.amazon.com/Vector-VEC008-Digital-Voltmeter-Volt/dp/B0002ISEQW
In this guy's case he doesn't know enough to even start to diagnose
and fix his car. I'd say jump start it, drive it to the shop and be
sure to take the check book. And he might want to consider a
membership in AAA for future problems.
 >> Stay informed about: Car power dead 

"peternoon" <peternoon.DeleteThis@hotmail.co.uk> wrote in message
news:1465cc6e-baea-4f13-8d84-8f660fa28cdc@l42g2000yqe.googlegroups.com...

> In this guy's case he doesn't know enough to even start to diagnose
> and fix his car. I'd say jump start it, drive it to the shop and be
> sure to take the check book. And he might want to consider a
> membership in AAA for future problems.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Firstly, I actually know more than you think but this time I am
flabbergasted because in little more than a day it does not even have
power for the immobiliser flashing LED
Secondly, I do have a volt meter but it is at my place of work and
need the car to go and collect it (D'oh)
Thirdly I do (or did) have a membership of a rescue service but the
wife forgot to renew it (her job) and it expired 2 days ago. That's
usually the case, innit?

The battery is about 4 years old and the alternator is only 1.5 years
old

That is why I thought it could be a broken connection, blown fuse or
something like that, but where?
====================

Your manual will show where the fuse panel(s) are located.
 >> Stay informed about: Car power dead 

Fat Moe wrote:

>Retired VIP wrote:
>>On Tue, 2 Dec 2008 03:44:23 -0800 (PST), peternoon
>><peternoon.DeleteThis@hotmail.co.uk> wrote:
>>
>>>I have a Celica 1995. The power is completely dead. I do not see
>>>how the battery could have been discharged so quickly. It has
>>>been stopped only for a day and a half. I checked and no lights
>>>were left on. Where do I look first? How do I check if there is
>>>power in the battery and something like a main fuse blew off or
>>>there is a cable disconnected? I do no have a meter.
>>>
>>>Thanks
>>>
>>
>>Without test equipment it is almost impossible to diagnose an
>>electrical problem. If your car has the original battery, then it
>>is about 13 years old. Your problem might be a bad battery but
>>without a way to test, you can't say for sure.
>>
>>Jack j
>A gizmo like this is a very handy thing to have around when trouble
>shooting the electrical and charging system. Just plug it into the
>cigarette lighter and monitor the voltage. You can tell pretty quick
>if the chaging system is working properly, once the car is running
>again. I got something like it from Radio Shack years ago and still
>use it when needed, and it's one of the few tools I don't loan out.
>http://www.amazon.com/Vector-VEC008-Digital-Voltmeter-Volt/dp/B0002ISE
>QW In this guy's case he doesn't know enough to even start to
>diagnose and fix his car. I'd say jump start it, drive it to the
>shop and be sure to take the check book. And he might want to
>consider a membership in AAA for future problems.

What good is that device if you don't know whether the battery is dead
or a fuse or a broken wire? You need to measure at the source of the
voltage, not at the end.

--
"A word to the wise isn’t necessary. It's the stupid ones who need the
advice." ~ Bill Cosby
 >> Stay informed about: Car power dead 

peternoon wrote:

>I have a Celica 1995. The power is completely dead. I do not see how
>the battery could have been discharged so quickly. It has been stopped
>only for a day and a half. I checked and no lights were left on.
>Where do I look first? How do I check if there is power in the battery
>and something like a main fuse blew off or there is a cable
>disconnected? I do no have a meter.
>
>Thanks

If you have no tools get someone to give you a jump and take the car
immediately to AutoZone or such place and have the electrical system
checked for free.
 >> Stay informed about: Car power dead 

On Tue, 02 Dec 2008 07:13:51 -0800, peternoon wrote:

>
>>   In this guy's case he doesn't know enough to even start to diagnose
>> and fix his car.  I'd say jump start it, drive it to the shop and be
>> sure to take the check book.   And he might want to consider a
>> membership in AAA for future problems.- Hide quoted text -
>>
>> - Show quoted text -
>
> Firstly, I actually know more than you think but this time I am
> flabbergasted because in little more than a day it does not even have
> power for the immobiliser flashing LED
> Secondly, I do have a volt meter but it is at my place of work and
> need the car to go and collect it (D'oh)
> Thirdly I do (or did) have a membership of a rescue service but the
> wife forgot to renew it (her job) and it expired 2 days ago. That's
> usually the case, innit?
>
> The battery is about 4 years old and the alternator is only 1.5 years
> old
>
> That is why I thought it could be a broken connection, blown fuse or
> something like that, but where?


Check under the hood for a fuse block.
Um, do you have ANY power at all? You say the alarm LED doesn't even flash.
Does the car start with a jump? If it does start, does it keep running
when the cables are removed?

If the car won't start at all, nothing, totally dead, look in the fuse
block under the hood. There will be three or four very large 'fuses',
check these. These are the main power breakers for the electrical system.
Also look to see if there are any wires there, and also look for a smaller
block right near the battery. These wires are Fusible Links, and if one
has blown you may get lucky by replacing it. AutoZone has Fusible Link
wire on hand.

If you're not lucky, you'll replace the Fusible Link and have it blow
again, meaning something drastic is going on.

NOTE: Remove the negative battery terminal before replacing a Fusible Link!!!


Also. if there is an AutoZone nearby, they can test the battery for you.

Good Luck! Let us know what happens!
 >> Stay informed about: Car power dead 

"peternoon" <peternoon RemoveThis @hotmail.co.uk> wrote in message
news:f8986978-765b-47a7-8759-6b955576b5e0@v38g2000yqb.googlegroups.com...
>I have a Celica 1995. The power is completely dead. I do not see how
> the battery could have been discharged so quickly. It has been stopped
> only for a day and a half. I checked and no lights were left on.
> Where do I look first? How do I check if there is power in the battery
> and something like a main fuse blew off or there is a cable
> disconnected? I do no have a meter.
>
> Thanks
>

If the battery is over 4 years old, it is possible that it would discharge
almost completely overnight. If there are any aftermarket accessories
installed like remote starters, theft deterrent devices, then they sometimes
draw more than factory accessories, contributing to the rapid discharge of
the battery.

The most likely problem is a bad battery, which can be confirmed by
jump-starting.

If jump starting does not work, then the next step is to measure battery
voltage. You can check the fuses and fusible links in the fuse box under
the hood, but my guess is that they will appear to be good.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)
 >> Stay informed about: Car power dead 

"Ray O" <rokigawa.RemoveThis@NOSPAMtristarassociates.com> wrote in message
news:gh4619$94n$1@news.motzarella.org...
> If the battery is over 4 years old, it is possible that it would discharge
> almost completely overnight. If there are any aftermarket accessories
> installed like remote starters, theft deterrent devices, then they
> sometimes draw more than factory accessories, contributing to the rapid
> discharge of the battery.
>
> The most likely problem is a bad battery, which can be confirmed by
> jump-starting.
>
> If jump starting does not work, then the next step is to measure battery
> voltage. You can check the fuses and fusible links in the fuse box under
> the hood, but my guess is that they will appear to be good.
> --
>
> Ray O

I have seen batteries that have are damaged internally and the battery is
all of a sudden completely dead and will not accept a charge. I usually
happens more often in the summer, but it can happen anytime, especially if
the battery is subjected to some kind of physical stress like hitting a bump
in the road.
 >> Stay informed about: Car power dead