Hi,

I would really like some helpfull suggestion on this problem.

My wife's 2001 camry car battery cant stay more than three days, if the car is not driven. I have monitored the car over night to see if the radio or lights may have been accidentally left on. I recently got a brand new battery and still have the same problems. I initally suspected he alternator but if i put a flat battery it charges the battery. But the battery does not last last if the car is not warmed. The finial straw was yesterday after the car was idle for a day i started the car and let it idle for a while and the next day i decided to take the car out it failed to start.

What is the cause and possible solution?

Regards.

Had same problem but my electrician did some abracadabra on the alternator n waoh AV been running the car till date. If not an electrical leak then maybe alternator. Let ur tech check for electrical leaks.

check if . ignition key actually switches. off

something is drawing the current..or a cable is shorting somewhere..flooded cars normally hv this problem.come out at night and observe the car thourougly , see if a light is glowing somewhere door lights on the dashboard etc.also does the car hv a sun roof?

the best way to trouble shoot this prob is if u have an amp meter..then u can measure the current draw

another culprit could be ur ground.check n clean ur ground terminals on the car body...i also advice u to run 2 or 3 more ground cables to ur frame and chassis.it doesnt hurt.make sure u use thick cables and affix to the unpainted part of the car body/firewall

also use the procedure above to check the current draw when the car is off..it better to do this procedure after the car has been off for abt 15mins upwards.

You use a multimeter in the current measuring position. Make sure the fuse is not bad.

Loosen the ground battery cable, but don't separate yet. Connect one side of the meter to the negative battery cable or the car chassis with a jumper lead. Hold the other probe of the meter to the top center of the negative battery post. Lift the battery terminal slightly. Maintain the probe against the post through the big hole in the terminal. Note the current. Push the battery terminal back into place, and tighten.

You want to avoid actually breaking the connection so that the radio and computer settings are not lost. The meter supplies the current path when the terminal is pulled away.

Thanks for all the ideas, will surely look into them, it can be harrowing being in a hurry to leave home to beat the early morning traffic only to get disappointed by your battery!!

In the meantime unplug the battery terminals at night. Also check your alternator for failure.