How often do you have to replace your batteries in the winter?

[natto fire]

A small heater is much cheaper than replacing a heater core on most cars.

If you are talking about one that plugs into a cigarette lighter plug, why waste money on something that won't even come close to being able to heat the cabin of a car? Most cigarette plugs are on 15 or 20 amp fuses, so 180 to 240 watts. Most of them are lower than that. I learned the hard way a long time ago with a 75 watt model. 75 watts, even 240 for that matter, is just not very much heat.

If you are talking about a larger direct wired one, that would probably run more than just getting the heater fixed on the car. Then you have to worry about damaging your alternator/battery to get the amount of heat needed for a car's cabin.

Resistive electric heating uses LOTS of energy.

 

[LTC8K6]

Ok bit of an update:

I took the car for a yearly emissions check and bought a new battery from that place as it was on sale. As they were busy, I left it overnight with them.

They always thought I was exaggerating about the battery.

Guess what.. battery dead again in the morning and it was less than 12 hours old.

Something is seriously wrong at this point and they can't find a cause.. but it's obvious it's electrical in nature and something is either short circuiting or drawing power when it should not be.

What are my options? My toyota dealer said they'll look at it for $800 but I don't have that much.

So what are my real options.. have it looked at by an electrician on the side or just sell it for $3000 and hope I can get a suv for $3000 without electrical problems?

I don't think I can get anywhere close to the mileage I have on it (56000 milees) for that kind of money but at least I'll be rid of the headache.

$800 to find a parasitic draw? A mugger wouldn't get that much from you...

A basic way is to measure the draw, and then pull fuses until you see the current draw go away, then you have the circuit and you can narrow it down from there.

 

[Indus]

$800 to find a parasitic draw? A mugger wouldn't get that much from you...

A basic way is to measure the draw, and then pull fuses until you see the current draw go away, then you have the circuit and you can narrow it down from there.

Yes sadly. This is the same toyota dealer that charged me $130 to find out why engine light indicator was on and that was just to find out the error code. Not the fix.

 

[Torn Mind]

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=test+parasitic+draw

This is one of those instances where it makes sense to do it yourself. The meter can be Harbor Freight quality since the exact numbers are not of major concern.

Fuses simply need to be matched in terms of size and rating and all should be well after replacement.

 

[pcgeek11]

Get an honest mechanic. You are being taken for a fool.

 

[SparkyJJO]

Screw shady dealers. I'd tell them they're insane and never, EVER go back there.

 

[Indus]

Ok this is the sum of all charges..

#1 Toyota Dealer Labor $130
just to diagnose air fuel ratio sensor is malfunctioning and needs to be replaced. Sensor must be replaced and an emissions test performed before any further diagnosis (parasitic draw)

#2 Took it to my usual mechanic.. he changed the part but the malfunction light came on again. For labor he charged me $130 but nothing for parts.. he originally quoted me $350. (waste of time)

#3 Took it to another guy who fixed the sensor problem (apparently it was a sensor behind the engine) and he charged me $300 including parts and labor.

All together $510 but it's cheaper than the Toyota dealer quoting me $800 to fix it and another $800 for parasitic draw.

So umm where can I save? I guess don't go to #1 and #2 next time and just go with #3 straight away and save $260?

All this is before the parasitic draw test.. See why I am sort of keen to sell this 56000 mile highlander and sorta wanting to pick up a 150,000 mile vehicle without problems? UGH.

 

[Indus]

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=test+parasitic+draw

This is one of those instances where it makes sense to do it yourself. The meter can be Harbor Freight quality since the exact numbers are not of major concern.

Fuses simply need to be matched in terms of size and rating and all should be well after replacement.

I think I'll try that. Great video.

 

[Torn Mind]

It's a matter of tracking down the problem circuit. The fuses themselves don't need replacing. But taking them out opens the circuit and stops current flow if current is flowing. Once you find the problem fuse, then it is a matter of matching the fuse to the circuit it is a part of.



.

 

[sontakke]

Given that OP must be coming from an immigrant community where 90% of them are either doctors or engineers and are not in habit of burning their money (except may on their children's education just ask around for decent independent mechanics around your ethnic circle. OR better, just ask your wife to ask her friends for mechanic references.

Even if you were capable of solving this problem yourself, you should still have a trustworthy mechanic on call. Your dealer has proven NOT to be trustworthy by his antiques so far.

You should also know that cheapest code reader can be had for under $20. Having to pay $120 to read a code from the dealer should make you feel very very bad.

 

[Indus]

I was born here just so you know. My spouse is Filipina-Singaporean.

But yeah excuse my french.. fuck the toyota dealer.

Anyways no one answered my question as to.. should I hang onto the 2001 highlander or sell it and get another truck with hopefully no problems?

 

[LTC8K6]

I was born here just so you know. My spouse is Filipina-Singaporean.

But yeah excuse my french.. fuck the toyota dealer.

Anyways no one answered my question as to.. should I hang onto the 2001 highlander or sell it and get another truck with hopefully no problems?

Well, I think a parasitic draw is likely a minor and easily corrected problem, so I would say keep the vehicle.

 

[pcgeek11]

An older vehicle is going to have more issues than what you have.

You have a minor issue that seems large to you due to your lack of knowledge. Locate a good mechanic and get the car fixed properly or just stick to riding the bus.

 

[Torn Mind]

The Highlander shares innards with the Camry of similar vintage. Aside from this problem circuit, the rest of the vehicle should have Toyota reliability and is worth keeping.

Yes, you can buy another vehicle, but you'll need to make sure it passes inspection, pay titling and registration fees, etc. Finding one that passes the safety inspection can be a chore and be riddled with unexpected costs unless you solely limited yourself to sellers that assure you it can pass your state's inpsection process.

 

[sontakke]

Excuse me if I made an assumption about your ethnicity. I don't know but your username and posts in OT and PN gave me strong suspicion that you do have ties to *that* community.

Kuchh nahi to apane pitajee ko puchh lo

 

[Eug]

Toyota Prius: Never changed the 12 V battery in 11 years. Dealer tested battery at about the 10 year mark and said it was fine. (Not talking about the hybrid battery, as that's different, but that was working fine too.) I was a bit surprised since I assumed the dealer would try to upsell me a new battery just based on its age, but they didn't.

Toyota Yaris: Once in 9 years. The reason is my wife had a habit of sitting in the car with the engine off but using electricity from the car. This was because our son might fall asleep in the car and she didn't want to wake him, so she'd turn on the radio or CD player on low with a lullaby, while having her iPhone plugged-in while she surfed. After many episodes of this, one day in the cold the battery just died.

Actually it was fine after we got the car jump started and in the starts after that, but just in case I bought a new battery. Probably was a waste of money though since fast forward a few months later and we're selling the car.