why does my Toyota RAV4 battery die overnight when parked

Solution

1. Preparation

• Gather necessary tools and parts.
• Ensure the vehicle is parked on a level surface and the ignition is off.
• Disconnect the negative battery terminal to ensure safety.

2. Inspect Battery and Connections

• Tools Required: Wrench or socket set
• Remove the battery terminals, starting with the negative terminal.
• Clean any corrosion on the terminals and battery posts with a wire brush.
• Tighten any loose connections.

3. Perform Parasitic Draw Test

• Tools Required: Multimeter
• Reconnect the negative battery terminal.
• Set the multimeter to the amps setting and connect it in series between the negative battery terminal and the battery post.
• Record the current draw; it should be below 50 milliamps.
• If it exceeds this, continue troubleshooting.

4. Identify Faulty Circuit

• Tools Required: Multimeter, fuse puller
• Pull fuses one at a time while monitoring the multimeter for a drop in current draw.
• Note which circuit caused the drop; this indicates the source of the parasitic draw.
• Inspect components connected to the faulty circuit for malfunction.

5. Repair or Replace Faulty Components

• Tools Required: Various hand tools as necessary
• Repair or replace any identified faulty components (e.g., switches, modules).
• If necessary, refer to the vehicle service manual for specific repair procedures.