I think i forgot my cabin light on before i left...ugh. When I got into my car 3 days afterwards, I noticed the battery was dead. I checked it, and the positve terminal was corroded. The negative one was ok. Should I assume it's just a bad battery or could it be something else? Toyota Yaris 2014
Thanks
Try cleaning the terminals and tightening the terminals. Also try getting you battery tested at AutoZone to see the life still in it.
If I jumpstart it, will that last enough to get me to the store? I am just guessing, because last time the battery was dead also and it was almost 3 years ago. I am going from my previous experience that the alternator is still good. Never had a problem before.
Yeah, jump starting should be able to get you there. Just don’t use the accessories unless necessary.
Thank you for your help. I used one of those portable batteries (small one) to jumpstart it. It worked, but the reading on that device said if not mistaken 11.1 does this mean the battery is still good? In any case I will find out if it'll start again tomorrow before i go to work.
Anything below 12.0 volts means your battery is bad. Ideally it should be around 12.6-12.7 volts.
i will have it tested then and probably change it. It's the corrosion that was my first sign of a bad battery. The voltage was all over the place. The jumpstarter might not be very accurate either
It could still be fine. Just let it charge up, clean up the terminals (boiling water works well), apply some grease or spray, and see what happens.
Year, Make, Model, Mileage?
Toyota Yaris 2014, milage 80k
How old is the battery?
3 years probably, bought it at a Walmart. Not sure if I should go there again.
Yeah, some batteries only have a short warranty and life span on them.
Charge your old battery fully, and then see what happens. Obviously, don’t leave any lights on, accidentally..
You might want to consider replacing your stock lamps with LEDs. They draw a lot less power and less likely to run your battery down. Anyway, isn't the modern vehicles electronics designed to shut off the lamp after a certain amount of time so that the battery isn't drained? My interior lights get automatically shut off after a certain amount of time if I leave a door open.
Do you think my car does that? Toyota Yaris 2014 I am inclined to shut the cabin light off permanently (switch it to OFF mode). That car is so low tech, i doubt it even came with a feature like you are talking about. It technically is a Mazda, from my understanding.
I'm not familiar with your car. I kinda expected models after 1995 had that feature. Before the electronic modules were added, it was common for the battery to go dead if the interior light was left on.
If I see corrosion on a battery I change it. Especially it is 3 years old. Dont believe any of those 5 year warranty nonsense unless yours require to top up water.
Why was this down voted, enlighten me.
Seeing corrosion isn't a reason to throw away a battery. And a good battery can last 6y or more.