Seattle SCone

We older ones also benefit with stereo microscopes. A loupes are not enough any more for me.

recapping the main ecu an other ecus is on my list of expected future needs as the car ages

GmanSC

How the heck we derailed to soldering lesson? Good subject. As a tech for ten years and a ME for twenty one years, working for aerospace TRW, and various Electronic firms, I have quite a bit of experience in soldering techniques. Everything Paul said about desoldering is right on the dot. To solder the components back to the PCB use the same technic, with correct size of tip and solder. Pre-tin the tip and the leads. Flux the solder joints and apply the heat evenly, to flow the solder smoothly. Remember to clean the joints using brittle brush and alcohol.
At this time of age, most of us don’t repair PCB or replace components as they are mostly multi-leads large and small surface mounted chips which required special tools and techniques, however, it’s good to gain the knowledges of soldering just incase if you have to replace a capacitor or a resistor.

1medic

Any resolution to this "drain" issue yet?

I'm helping out my father in law with his 2002 and 2006 SC's and they both have the same exact parasitic draw in the same fuses!! His Bay Area Lexus dealer told him its normal and to use a trickle charger if the car sits for more than a few days.

TXFM

The only explanation that I've seen suggests that the Electrolytic capacitors on several circuit boards are degrading (leaking current?). One of the guys has replaced his E-lytics, and it seems to have worked. I really don't want to try that because I would almost certainly destroy the boards. /

jimisbell

There are electrolytics and there are electrolytics. The big ones, physically big, are the worst offenders. They happen to be the easy ones to replace. If you cant get the little ones, they are least likely to be causing problems anyway. Big ones are often held on by long wire leadsthat you can clip at the component and solder the new unit to the wires, but even if end soldered to the board, relatively easy to replace. That 1.4 amp drain is terrible and is most likely electrolytic caps on 14 year old boards. But if you can replace the radio with a more modern radio it will be a much better radio AND EASIER to do!!!. Dont replace it with an old used radio as the 14 year old electrolytics will be leaking !!!! Duh.

AustinTex

I replaced the radio in my high school daughters SC430 since she wanted apple car play and a back up camera

this new radio install cut off the navigation screen that she never used anyways. Not sure if that any additional benefits.

she hasn’t had an issue with battery drain since But she will also drive her car usually at least once a week.

BuffMan

... so reading this thread it seems there are two options to resolve parasitic battery drain (excluding the resoldering/replacing old board components), summarized as follows:

1. Use battery maintainer & keep existing radio/amplifier system, or

2. Replace old radio & amp with completely new sound system.

Thoughts/comments? If new sound system removes prime source of parasitic drain, perhaps that enhances long term value. Yes, I know cost of battery maintainer is much less, but .... hmmm.

Bgw70

did you use the BeatSonic interface?
do you want the backup camera to show up on the upper nav screen?

jimisbell

You dont have to replace the old radio and amp. If you have a shop that can do it or if you can do it yourself, y0u can replace all the electrolytic capicitors and the problem will be solved cheaper than a new sound system

AustinTex

I did not use the BeatSonic interface. Since this car was only being used by my teenage daughter who now in college and now will be used by my freshman daughter when she is old enough to drive.
I wanted something nice but did not want to spend too much.
I ended up loosing the navigation screen and lost controlling the volume on the steering wheel.(not a big deal for us since she uses her iphone for navigation that is now displayed on the stereo screen.)
I had a JBL stereo installed that also shows the image of the back up camera on it when in reverse.
My entire system cost me about $400 (install was included when I had it done.

taybrynn

I just tested my battery drain and had similar results on 17. 18. 19 20 and 43.

My 43 drain was .06 most of the time.

Stereo was replaced in 2022 and doesn't seem to have a drain on its fuses.

THe security system #12 had a load of .01a

** I added a battery cut off on the negative terminal and have had no issues with doing that regularly ... yes, I lose radio presets and the clock is always off
but I use bluetooth or a cord/iphone to run the music with. The sound system is disgraceful considering my father in law spent over 1200 upgrading it and
the NAV doesn't work and the steering controls don't work and the sound overall sounds like a $40 kraco stereo (no bass). Removing the OEM radio really
cripples the car, but most of what is disabled wasn't any good to begin with.

The car will drain seriously in a week and pretty significantly in just 3-4 days. THe battery shut off is the easiest, just pop hood and slide it out and your good
till the next time. If leaving for months, then a maintainer might be a better idea, but I just check and recharge with my CLORE PL2320 which is excellent.
I've installed NOCO Genius 2D on other cars with similar issues and its nice, but you have to have a cord hanging out all the time and the cord it comes with
is woefully short for a clean install. Sure splice more cable or use a short extension.

THis is the shut off I installed.
(it is a lower profile model that I mounted onto negative terminal)

joemg

On a FB group, I saw someone chased the drain down to the GPS nav unit in the back. You may want to check that, I believe it's on a different fuse than the headunit/amp (not 100% sure).

jimisbell

If it was the GPS unit that wou8ld be a great find since that thing is prety much useless these days with the last CD version being 2016

Tanker

If you all are parking your cars in places for long periods of time I'm going to suggest the route I took.

Add a Compustar Alarm system with the droan feature.

It will report the cars status to you, including battery charge. If battery reports low, remote start the car and let the battery charge. It will remote start as long as there is a cell signal at the car.

Someone028

That sounds interesting. I checked their website and found the info below that states that remote starting won't recharge your battery. Is there some other info that I've missed? Thanks.
-

https://www.compustar.com/blog/winter-car-battery-failure

2. Monitor Your Battery with Drone Mobile (as one word)

Did you know all 2-way Compustar systems now include a Drone X1 module? When you activate Battery Monitoring Alerts, Drone Mobile will monitor your battery’s voltage and send you a push notification or a text message if your vehicle’s battery dips below 11.7 volts.

3. Remote Start Your Engine

While remote starting won’t recharge your battery, it will help with some of the other issues that lead to battery failure. Remote starting and letting your engine idle for just a few minutes will warm up the fluids that may have thickened in the cold.