# Stubborn electrical problem in 1986 Toyota Tercel wagon **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** toyota, tercel\ **Created:** [July 31, 2013, 12:45am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stubborn-electrical-problem-in-1986-toyota-tercel-wagon/80643 "2013-07-31T00:45:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mims](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ccd318/32.png) [@Mims](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mims)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 12:45am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stubborn-electrical-problem-in-1986-toyota-tercel-wagon/80643/1 "2013-07-31T00:45:17Z")
Me and several local mechanics are at our wits end as to what may be draining my battery over and over. Two lights come on the dash–the ‘charge’ light on the left and the ‘brake’ light on the right–and then the car is running only on the battery. Sometimes while driving, the two lights come on and then go off again in a few minutes, and in that case, the battery does not drain. Repeatedly, though, after driving and turning everything off, the next day the car will not start; the two dashboard lights come on faintly; the car starts only if jump started. So far, mechanics have replaced the battery, replaced the alternator, replaced fuses, and replaced the main relay switch. No effect. Further suggestions what to check may kindly be sent to [miriamdoc@yahoo.com](mailto:miriamdoc@yahoo.com). Thank you. Mims ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 1:32am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stubborn-electrical-problem-in-1986-toyota-tercel-wagon/80643/2 "2013-07-31T01:32:06Z")
The problem might be a parasitic current draw on the battery as the vehicle sits. One example of this is the glove box light remains on. To check for this would be to open the glove box and touch the bulb. If the bulb is hot you know it didn’t just come on but has been on for quite some time. The proper way to check for a parastic current draw on your year of vehicle is explained here. > **[How to Stop Car Battery Drains](https://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/car-technology/a5859/how-to-stop-car-battery-drains/)** > > There are plenty of energy-robbing devices on your car that are supposed to go to sleep when it's parked, and sometimes, not all of them go to sleep. Here's how to give them a tranquilizer. Tester ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 3:17am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stubborn-electrical-problem-in-1986-toyota-tercel-wagon/80643/3 "2013-07-31T03:17:00Z")
The presence of those two warning lights indicates that your alternator is not charging the battery sufficiently, and will soon fail completely. Yes, I understand that your alternator was replaced, but the percentage of remanufactured alternators that are defective is…incredibly high. If you install a **new** alternator, I believe that your problems will be resolved. ---
**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 5:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stubborn-electrical-problem-in-1986-toyota-tercel-wagon/80643/4 "2013-07-31T17:17:59Z")
The charge light and the brake light shouldn’t interact. To me that suggests a ground problem. Check ground straps and any ground wire to the instrument cluster. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 5:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stubborn-electrical-problem-in-1986-toyota-tercel-wagon/80643/5 "2013-07-31T17:48:45Z")
Take a look at the following older threads, circuitsmith, and see if you still disagree with me (and some other forum members), regarding the presence of both the charging system warning light and the brake warning light: > **[Tercel brake/battery light mysteries](http://community.cartalk.com/discussion/1290611/tercel-brake-battery-light-mysteries)** > > I have a 1992 Toyota Tercel with almost 200k on it. The thing runs great, but this past monday when I got in it, the brake and battery light stayed on…so naturally I then drove it 150 miles round trip. The battery died in the grocery store, so I... > **[Battery and brake lights on again after alternator replaced](https://community.cartalk.com/discussion/265810/battery-and-brake-lights-on-again-after-alternator-replaced)** > > My 2001 Outback lost power while driving home last week–brake and battery lights came on, tach and speedometer needles stopped working, then car lost power. A fresh battery got me to the shop where the alternator was replaced. Ten blocks after... > **[Brake and battery indicator lights stay on](http://community.cartalk.com/discussion/2286715/brake-and-battery-indicator-lights-stay-on)** > > I have a Nissan 98 frontier 4wheel drive 4 cylinder king cab. i just changed the winshield washer pump and since then the brake and battery indicator lights stay on. I disconnected the battery and that didn’t help. The battery checks out and I could... [http://community.cartalk.com/discussion/2278779/1993-toyota-pickup-dash-light-issue/p1](http://community.cartalk.com/discussion/2278779/1993-toyota-pickup-dash-light-issue/p1) ---
**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 5:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stubborn-electrical-problem-in-1986-toyota-tercel-wagon/80643/6 "2013-07-31T17:51:48Z")
OK, fine.