Need Help Battery Draw Rigid lights or Tech12 remote start??

Hello All,

2018 tundra. Rigid fog light bar and 2 fog lights per side. Also installed tech12 remote start. Never had issues with either except a random few times where the rigid light bar 1/2 of it flashes when truck is off.

recently ran into issues where key fob won’t open/work until it’s warm outside (no beeps) and truck is warmed up. I then noticed with cold weather when cold starting in morning the battery struggling to turn over. 2.5 yr old North Star AGM 27. I got battery replaced under warranty for free. And replaced key fob battery. Key fob issues still existed. Battery seemed to fix morning cold start issue until recently. Clearly there is something drawing down battery. If I drive throughout the day no issues with turn over. Alternator reading on battery is 13.6 which is standard for tundra my 08 was the same. So question is it the rigid light bar drawing down power or remote start? I have no other led lights or accessories. Thanks for comments

 

Do you have the light bar hooked up so that it is always hot (meaning can you turn on the light bar when the truck is off and keys are out of the ignition)?

does the light bar flash when you lock the doors or activate the remote start?

 

Yes light bar can turn on with car off but fog lights can not. Install was done by 4wheel parts by original owner. Bought truck in used in March 2021. Never had this battery draw issue until recently. But did have the issue where randomly 1/2 the middle light bar would lightly flash when off. But this would happen few and far between once a month if that. Installed remote start in January 2022.

 

1/2 Light bar issue only happens when truck is off so can tell power is going to it. But like I said it’s very random and doesn’t correlate to key fob or when truck is driving just when it’s off

 

I am not an electrical expert but with the randomness of the light bar flashing I would assume that’s where your parasitic draw is coming from…..can you pull the fuse to the light bar (disconnect it all together temporarily) and see if that doesn’t solve your issue?

 

Sounds like light bar. I put 12v solution remote starts in truck and rav4, no issues on either.
If light bar is randomly lighting, even slightly, it’s drawing power. Maybe a bad switch? Is it powered directly from switch or through a relay?

 

Yes can pull fuse but I just disconnected from battery. In terms of a long term solution what would cause the parasitic draw? Bad wiring harness? It’s tied to a fuse then wiring harness then run into dash as a button for LED light bar next to my switches in the truck

 

The exact cause of parasitic draws can be a puzzle as there are multiple things that can cause it. It will help if you can first verify that you have an issue and then start the process of elimination. A decent DVM will allow you to chase it down.

Personally I'd start by determining if a parasitic draw exists that is high enough to cause an issue even when the lightbar is not mysteriously flashing on by itself. If so then pull the lightbar fuse and see if the high draw goes away. If the mystery current draw doesn't go away then start pulling fuses one at a time until the draw drops to a reasonable level and you will know for certain what sub-system is the cause of your issue.

If a high parasitic draw does not exist when you test then go ahead and pull the lightbar fuse for grins and see if your issues clear up. If the problem goes away then then it will be time to go thru the lightbar wiring to find the problem.

 

I unhooked the light bar. Still have the draw. The more research I do suggests the remote start can be the problem. Has anyone here ever had issues with tech12volt remote start and battery draw?

 

I have had that remote start installed for 4 years and never had an issue. Have you traced the wires to see if it’s installed properly. There are specific locations to tap….

 

Did you splice wires or buy the TPMS harness? I got the harness and believe that is the issue. I just had AC motor go out and then I unhooked battery terminal and now it’s working. Also my TPMS sensor has been going out randomly when driving and my key fob works intermittently. I believe there has to be some loose wires in the module causing these issues.

 

I did not buy the harness. I stripped a section of the insulation from the tpms wire and braided in the remote start wire. I don’t cut the wire.