Battery problems

[Kansas Scott]

I’m on day four of our two month summer National Park trip. Currently at Theodore Roosevelt NP in South Dakota.

Note: I have the Slee installed IBS system with an aux battery. Had it for two years.

~8 months ago, my main batt would be low on power when I tried to start the vehicle in the AM. I’d make sure my AC was office as well as any accessories. Problem continued. Forum recommended replacing the 5 amp alternator fuse (?) with an after market fuse (looks like a fuse with another fuse stuck in it). This new Frankenstein-fuse provides a high rate of amps charging the batt when driving. The Franken-fuse did in fact do this and my starting problems went away.

The problems returned ~1 month ago. I ended up swapping main and aux batts with Odessey batts. Everything worked fine, no problems starting.

As of yesterday, the starting problems are back. I had to link the batts to start the vehicle. Once I arrived at the campsite, the IBS was showing the main batt with no voltage. This morning, the main batt showed 12.7v. We took a trip into Medora, SD (6 miles from campsite) and after walking around the town, I couldn’t get the vehicle to unlock. I had to use the manual key. Once I linked the batteries, no problem - vehicle started. I am noticing when I am driving that the voltage meter is lower than normal (~13.7 instead of ~14.2).

I checked the Franken-fuse, it is not blown. I am using my trailer’s solar panel to charge the main batt, it is now showing ~14.2 volts.

Any ideas what my problem is? Bad alternator? A relay in the IBS?

Help!

Scott
2015 L200, Slee IBS system
Currently in South Dakota

 

[indycole]

I’m on day four of our two month summer National Park trip. Currently at Theodore Roosevelt NP in South Dakota.

Note: I have the Slee installed IBS system with an aux battery. Had it for two years.

~8 months ago, my main batt would be low on power when I tried to start the vehicle in the AM. I’d make sure my AC was office as well as any accessories. Problem continued. Forum recommended replacing the 5 amp alternator fuse (?) with an after market fuse (looks like a fuse with another fuse stuck in it). This new Frankenstein-fuse provides a high rate of amps charging the batt when driving. The Franken-fuse did in fact do this and my starting problems went away.

The problems returned ~1 month ago. I ended up swapping main and aux batts with Odessey batts. Everything worked fine, no problems starting.

As of yesterday, the starting problems are back. I had to link the batts to start the vehicle. Once I arrived at the campsite, the IBS was showing the main batt with no voltage. This morning, the main batt showed 12.7v. We took a trip into Medora, SD (6 miles from campsite) and after walking around the town, I couldn’t get the vehicle to unlock. I had to use the manual key. Once I linked the batteries, no problem - vehicle started. I am noticing when I am driving that the voltage meter is lower than normal (~13.7 instead of ~14.2).

I checked the Franken-fuse, it is not blown. I am using my trailer’s solar panel to charge the main batt, it is now showing ~14.2 volts.

Any ideas what my problem is? Bad alternator? A relay in the IBS?

Help!

Scott
2015 L200, Slee IBS system
Currently in South Dakota

Try tightening the battery terminal hardware. I've experienced voltage drops due to the hardware not being tight enough.

 

[Kansas Scott]

Try tightening the battery terminal hardware. I've experienced voltage drops due to the hardware not being tight enough.

Terminal hardware is nice and tight.

 

[morganism]

On 4runners, this is usually a bad connection into the bottom of the fuse box, very bad metal fatigue there.
On the 60's it is a bad coil and ignitor ground.

 

[indycole]

Terminal hardware is nice and tight.

Are you using the military style battery extensions? If so, check the hardware that connects the extension to the terminal. Aside from that, the only other idea I have is maybe it's the battery? I had to replace my OEM battery after only 2 years.

 

[Markuson]

One thing I would recommend trying is resetting your IBS controller. To do this, press both buttons simultaneously wants. You will see the left Bank of lights turn on momentarily and then the right… And here a few peeps. I had a similar difficulty a year or so ago, and was surprised to discover that it reset made a big difference. Kohls suggestion was also good, as a cable that is even slightly loose can wreak havoc.

I know it seems very basic, and there’s no certainty it will be the remedy of course… But do try the ABS reset and see what happens over the next couple of days. I do know one thing that happened on mine, and that was that I had inadvertently put it into two hour link mode… Which can sit for two hours After shut off, where the batteries said they’re trying to charge each other. Anyway, give it a shot.

 

[9780LC]

Are you running the RBM module too? I've had one fail (over heated) on me because of where it was originally mounted. It caused a problem where the aux battery would actually drain the main when the vehicle was off and when the car was running the aux was getting a better charge than the main. Search the 200 and 80 forum for IBS. There's a lot of information here. I have not had a problem with the IBS since then and have it installed in 2 vehicles. I did get very frustrated though and almost ripped it out. You really have to attack the IBS with a meter to really figure out what's not working correctly. As mentioned above, you have to watch it and reset it every now and then to make sure it's working right. It's a little flakey and it $houldn't be.

 

[RET2]

Be sure to check/clean all battery connections especially the ground to frame as it often the culprit and usually overlooked. The reset option is an other viable fix.

 

[Kansas Scott]

Thank you for all the help and advice! Everything went well through North Dakota and Montana. Spent a week and a half at Glacier National Park (St Mary and Apgar) without issue. I reset the IBS controller and really cranked down on the terminal connections.

I got my 5000 mile service at the Toyota in Kalispell, MT. Their service dept is excellent.

Made it through Washington and Seattle traffic to Whitbey Island NAS. Taking the ferry to Port Townsend today. A week and a half around the Olympic peninsula then off to Mount Rainier.

Again, thank you for all the assistance, advice, and help!