Taking a break from the L400

[psilosin]

Well I am swapping my insurance over to the Hilux Surf today...had enough with the L400 and its flaky electronics for a while.

Yesterday I went to go to work and both batteries were dead dead...at 8:30am they were 7.9V. I went all over the van looking for something that must have been left on but couldn't identify anything. Mystery drain. By 1pm I was getting a reading of 4.4V! I then charegd teh batteries from 2pm to7pm and got a reading of 12.3V but could watch it start dropping immediately once the charger was disconencted ...12.2..12.1...12.0... At this point the dash light and interior lights would light up but trying to start teh vehicle make everything go dark again. Batteries were brand new at purchase. Alternator was rebuilt on purchase but it sounds like they are a piece of crap like the rest of teh L400 electronics and go south all the time so maybe it died again and took the batteries with it. I'll check them again after work today to see if they have totally drained again.

[jessef]

edit. new batteries. hmm.
famous L400 battery drain = dome light or sliding door foot area light left on (barely).

[Rising Sun Auto Import]

Well I am swapping my insurance over to the Hilux Surf today...had enough with the L400 and its flaky electronics for a while.

Yesterday I went to go to work and both batteries were dead dead...at 8:30am they were 7.9V. I went all over the van looking for something that must have been left on but couldn't identify anything. Mystery drain. By 1pm I was getting a reading of 4.4V! I then charegd teh batteries from 2pm to7pm and got a reading of 12.3V but could watch it start dropping immediately once the charger was disconencted ...12.2..12.1...12.0... At this point the dash light and interior lights would light up but trying to start teh vehicle make everything go dark again. Batteries were brand new at purchase. Alternator was rebuilt on purchase but it sounds like they are a piece of crap like the rest of teh L400 electronics and go south all the time so maybe it died again and took the batteries with it. I'll check them again after work today to see if they have totally drained again.

Hi psilosin,

Sorry to hear that.
Will pm you.

Steven

[CREGAN]

That sucks man! Wish I was a little closer so I could help you tinker.

Craig

[deli1733]

Why dont you try pulling fuses until you find the drain? Dont give up!

[psilosin]

Thanks guys. I dought anything is all that serious and just needs some more detective work but I just don't have the time to spare. I'll tinker away when I get a chance and get the L400 back on the road sometime in the spring. Right now I have kitchen, bathroom and nursery renos all on the go that need to get done yesterday

[jessef]

good call on putting it off till after snowfall/reno's.

[psilosin]

good call on putting it off till after snowfall/reno's.

My Wife agrees.

[thedjjack]

That is a big drain check the alternator sometimes they regulators will do this...

Should be an easy fix you just need to find the source.....

[Manitoba deli]

I would go with the alternator also. Do you know if the shop replaced your diode pack when they rebuilt it. When the diode pack failed in the alternator on my first l400, there was an intermittent battery drain (it would depend where the alt. stopped). It was enough of a drain, that it would kill my dual agm batteries in just over 1 hr.

Jason

[psilosin]

OK I should have walked away when I said I was....

Now that the dashboard has lights and now that the heater works and now that the tailgate stays closed and now that the AC doesn't scream like a banshee (not fixed just removed) and now that the side window isn't flapping open in the wind and the batteries are behaving and the cold start is under control....this morning a couple seconds after startup the two fan belts decide to both jump a step forward (ie #1 now on the AC pulley, #2 now on the #1 pulley) and this pulled the radiator fan inward causing it to smash its blades on the engine....

What are the odds of that one??? Belts must have had to been pretty loose?

[Fishtank]

WOW, feeling for you buddy. LMK if there is anything I can help with.

[CREGAN]

Cursed man! Probably alot of cursing going on too I wish I could help. You are probably feeling a little like I did where the can of gasoline and book of matches might be the only fix. I'm hoping things start working out for you.

Craig