Retired VIP wrote:
> On Tue, 2 Dec 2008 03:44:23 -0800 (PST), peternoon
> <peternoon@hotmail.co.uk> wrote:
>
>> I have a Celica 1995. The power is completely dead. I do not see how
>> the battery could have been discharged so quickly. It has been stopped
>> only for a day and a half. I checked and no lights were left on.
>> Where do I look first? How do I check if there is power in the battery
>> and something like a main fuse blew off or there is a cable
>> disconnected? I do no have a meter.
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>
> Without test equipment it is almost impossible to diagnose an
> electrical problem. If your car has the original battery, then it is
> about 13 years old. Your problem might be a bad battery but without a
> way to test, you can't say for sure.
>
> Jack j
A gizmo like this is a very handy thing to have around when trouble
shooting the electrical and charging system. Just plug it into the
cigarette lighter and monitor the voltage. You can tell pretty quick if
the chaging system is working properly, once the car is running again. I
got something like it from Radio Shack years ago and still use it when
needed, and it's one of the few tools I don't loan out.
http://www.amazon.com/Vector-VEC008-.../dp/B0002ISEQW
In this guy's case he doesn't know enough to even start to diagnose
and fix his car. I'd say jump start it, drive it to the shop and be
sure to take the check book. And he might want to consider a
membership in AAA for future problems.