- #15 of 57
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Re: '03 Camry Batteries keep die-ing [mrsacks]
by haefr
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Oct 30, 2005 (11:49 pm)
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Replying to: mrsacks (Oct 30, 2005 11:23 am)
Y'know, another thought just ocurred to me. Within the last six months I had to replace the battery in our old reliable '89 Toyota pickup. Got one from WalMart, brought it home, installed it, turned the key, and NOTHIN'! Not so much as a "click". It had lost its charge from sitting too long on the store aisle display rack. Once I pulled my car around and jumped it, I got the truck started, but it was not happy at being awakened from its too long slumber unless I kept my foot on the accelrator pedal to increase the idle speed. The point is that if whoever installed or sold you your new battery put it on a fast charger briefly, that would've been sufficient for several starts, but it wouldn't have been a full charge by any means. It's possible, as in the case of our truck, that the vehicle has to be driven a good fifty miles or so for the new battery to come up to full charge. We haven't had a lick of trouble starting that old truck since (cranks strong and fires fast) nor have I had to resort to any throttle "tricks" or re-adjust the original idle speed to keep it running at idle.
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- #16 of 57
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Re: '03 Camry Batteries keep die-ing And I now HATE TOYOTAs [mrsacks]
by mrsacks
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Nov 02, 2005 (6:26 pm)
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Replying to: mrsacks (Oct 30, 2005 11:23 am)
Well you can count me among the "I HATE TOYOTA" and their dealers club!!! After 37years of owning Toyotas (first was a new '69 Corona) I've had it with them. Batteries kep die-ing on my '03 Camry XLE with 14 K miles and the dealer says there is nothing wrong with the electrical system, meanwhile the 3rd battery in one week is now dead! And oh by the way, "since you didn't buy the replacement battery from us we are going to charge you for the diagnostic time spent on the car even though it is under warranty", Huh !?!?! When I (loudly) insist that there is no way I'm paying for diagnostic check, service rep blurts out "you're a complainer. You complained about service when you filled out the Toyota Corp Customer Service card in December 2004!" He tells me that Toyota headquarters sent back my comments to the dealer and it is now on file!!!! (I said that I thought recommending new PCV valve after one year and 6K miles was sneaky since the owner's manual did not call for it and that the dealer's customer service rep did not return my calls.) So hey did any of you know Toyota Corp is doing this AND it would be held against you!. By the way I use the dealer - my car's oil/filer is changed by them every 3-4 months (even though I only drive about 6 K year! at the same dealer I bought it from...) My neighbor who services Audi / Porches advised me that there is definitely an electrical system problem such as Parasidic draw or short circuit which he has tested for. Now it is a question of tracking it down. I am in the process of contacting the Regional Toyota Service office, but don't hold out much hope. Keep you all posted. Needless to say the reputation that Toyota dealers are getting are well deserved! ! !. 
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- #17 of 57
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Re: '03 Camry Batteries keep die-ing And I now HATE TOYOTAs [mrsacks]
by mrsacks
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Nov 08, 2005 (6:16 pm)
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Replying to: mrsacks (Nov 02, 2005 6:26 pm)
Its me again. OK I no longer hate Toyotas  ...but I DO HATE AMITYVILLE TOYOTA  , Long Island, NY (the dealer I bought my Camry from and bring brought for service). The Good News is I found and located the problem MYSELF with die-ing batteries. As I suspected there was a electrical draw. [Quick lesson - by disconnecting the negative battery cable from the negative battery terminal, then hooking up a 12 volt bulb from the negative battery cable to the negative battery terminal with all switches and all electric turned off including the dome light, if there is a bright light, then there is a constant draw from the battery (which there was). If there is only a very dim light, it is normal.] I removed fuses one at a time checking the light bulb each time to see if it dimmed. When I took out the final fuse (isn't always the last one) the bulb went very dim which is good, almost no draw. That fuse was for the power seats. In checking the seats my son noticed that the power seat button was out of place and jammed in the "on" position! Apparently someone either jammed something between the door and seat or something caused it to break, but there is was - the switch "on" drawing down the battery, even when the key is out! The Bad News, Atlantic Toyota, Sunrise Highway, Amityville Long Island NEVER checked the electrical system as they wrote up in the service order and insisted that I buy a replacement battery from them. DO NOT BUY FROM OR BRING YOUR CAR FOR SERVICE TO ATLANTIC TOYOTA ON LONG ISLAND! By the way I will be following up with the Toyota corporate office, newspapers, TV stations, etc. about my "friends" at this despicable dealer.
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- #18 of 57
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Re: '03 Camry Batteries keep die-ing And I now HATE TOYOTAs [mrsacks]
by mrsacks
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Nov 08, 2005 (6:29 pm)
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Replying to: mrsacks (Nov 08, 2005 6:16 pm)
Its me again. OK I no longer hate Toyotas ...but I DO HATE AMITYVILLE TOYOTA , Long Island, NY (the dealer I bought my Camry from and bring brought for service). The Good News is I found and located the problem MYSELF with die-ing batteries. As I suspected there was a electrical draw. [Quick lesson to check for a battery draining power (aka "parasidic draw") when the car is off - by disconnecting the negative battery cable from the negative battery terminal, then hooking up a 12 volt bulb between the disconnected negative battery cable and the negative battery terminal with all switches and all electric turned off including the dome light, if there the test bulb is bright, then there is a constant draw from the battery (which there was). If there is only a very dim light, it is normal.] I removed fuses one at a time checking the light bulb each time to see if it dimmed. When I took out the final fuse (isn't always the last one) the test bulb went very dim which is good, almost no draw. That fuse was for the power seats. In checking the seats my son noticed that the power seat button was out of place and jammed in the "on" position! Apparently someone either jammed something between the door and seat or something caused it to break, but there is was - the switch "on" drawing down the battery, even when the key is out! The Bad News, Atlantic Toyota, Sunrise Highway, Amityville Long Island NEVER checked the electrical system or this quick check as they wrote up in the service order and insisted that I buy a replacement battery from them. DO NOT BUY FROM OR BRING YOUR CAR FOR SERVICE TO ATLANTIC TOYOTA ON LONG ISLAND! By the way I will be following up with the Toyota corporate office, newspapers, TV stations, etc. about my "friends" at this despicable dealer.
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- #19 of 57
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Re: '03 Camry Batteries keep die-ing And I now HATE TOYOTAs [mrsacks]
by 210delray
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Nov 08, 2005 (7:59 pm)
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Replying to: mrsacks (Nov 08, 2005 6:29 pm)
Good for you!
I don't trust dealers myself and use an independent shop for repair work beyond my expertise (other than warranty or recall work).
It shows the wisdom of the adage to shop for dealer service as well as the deal itself when you purchase a new (or used) car.
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- #20 of 57
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Re: '03 Camry Batteries keep die-ing And I now HATE TOYOTAs [mrsacks]
by user777
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Nov 09, 2005 (3:31 am)
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Replying to: mrsacks (Nov 08, 2005 6:16 pm)
good sleuthing, and description on how to attack the problem methodically. a slightly more expensive diagnostic tool: if you had a cheap $15-$20 "multi-meter", (available at Home Depot and Lowes), you could have used the ammeter / current function to display current flow scaled in milli-amps to amps. one of these devices is a good thing to have to check batteries, wall-outlets, electrical continuity etc, if you know how to use one.
removing fuses one by one would have caused the current flow displayed on the meter to make a step-change down when you disconnected the fuse from the circuit with the constant high draw.
i'm surprised the technician did not do this sleuthing... maybe you can teach them how to do it. 
i think you should post your story in the Electrical problems that are driving you crazy forum, as other people could benefit from your experience.
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- #21 of 57
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Re: '03 Camry Batteries keep die-ing And I now HATE TOYOTAs [210delray]
by mrsacks1
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Nov 09, 2005 (6:31 pm)
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Replying to: 210delray (Nov 08, 2005 7:59 pm)
You're right, the penny-wise dollar foolish adage certainly applies. However in my case at the time I purchased the car the dealership had an owner who only owned this dealership and it had a good reputation. A week or so after I bought my car, the dealership was bought out by one of the "chain" dealerships that seems to be taking over where they own Honda, Lexus, Chevrolet, Hundai showrooms across Long Island. This is creating a new (read lower than low) mentality among these dealerships, where there is less competition and senior management knows and controls the price points.
I suspect the Internet sales have had an effect on their profit margins and they'll do ANYTHING to get a few extra bucks however they can.
I would like to spread the word on something important. When I wrote a negative comment on Corporate Toyota Customer Feedback card (which is sent out randomly to service customers), I was (inadvertently) told that this was now on my dealership record (!), that it had cost the service advisor $200 and I had been identified as a "chronic complainer!". This was told to me by the dealerships "Customer Service" Representative. So how does Toyota Corporate expect to get honest feedback if you are going to be retaliated against and treated poorly by giving honest constructive feedback? Be careful!
BTW - I have notified Corporate Toyota Hdqts about this and they were concerned about it as well as the dealership not checking out my electrical problem.
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- #22 of 57
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Re: '03 Camry Batteries keep die-ing And I now HATE TOYOTAs [user777]
by mrsacks1
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Nov 09, 2005 (7:22 pm)
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Replying to: user777 (Nov 09, 2005 3:31 am)
User 777I was not aware of the Electical Problems forum. Thanks for the heads up.
I posted as you suggested.
Regards
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- #23 of 57
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Re: '03 Camry Batteries keep die-ing [mrsacks]
by sxyrican80
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Nov 16, 2005 (1:15 pm)
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Replying to: mrsacks (Oct 30, 2005 6:30 am)
This problem sounds like you have an alternator problem. To know if your alternator is good, start the car up and let run for about 2 minutes, then disconnect the positive cable from the battery. If the car dies out(turns off), then your alternator is no good. You will have to replace it !!!
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- #24 of 57
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Re: '03 Camry Batteries keep die-ing [sxyrican80]
by wwest
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Nov 16, 2005 (1:35 pm)
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Replying to: sxyrican80 (Nov 16, 2005 1:15 pm)
No! NOT! NEVER!
If you disconnect the battery while the engine is running the alternator output might go SKY HIGH! In any case it will generate high enough voltage spikes that it could very well DESTROY every electronic module, ECU in the car.
The battery is an integral component of the voltage regulating aspect of system, without the battery as a "huge" current sink for over-voltages, voltages above its current charge level, many of the electronic systems will fail in very short order.
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