using radio on accessory without the truck running runs my battery down

My heater fan is off, wonder why my battery runs down just using the radio for 10 or 15 minutes with the key in the acc position, not on, and the truck not running.

 

Sounds like your battery is getting weak, have you had it tested recently?

 

Like dm93 said, battery is probably getting weak. Sometimes you can find a decal with a month/year. If it's past 3 years and a cheap battery, or 5 years and a good one, it's probably time. If you're in the backyard listening to the radio and got a battery charger, hook it up, then it should start when you're done.

You'll find several opinions, just like oil, on what's best. I've been a interstate user for years, which I'm now questioning because the last 2 only made it 3 yesrs.

If you have a multimeter, it might have a peak button. With the engine off, hook it to the battery, set it on dc volts, press peak twice, it might say low, meaning peak low volts. Start the engine. I've seen 10.4v or higher on new batteries. Less than 10 is getting weak. 9.5 or less, time to start shopping for a replacement. Sometimes if you take a battery brush to the terminals and posts, you'll get a better number.

 

Battery life is greatly affected by the climate you live in, in a hot climate like where I am 3 years is the average life of a battery no matter what brand but in a cooler climate you may get 5-7 years out of one.
My original lasted 4 years, Interstate has been lasting 3 years.
We sell Interstate where I work so I get them at cost but it doesn't seem to matter what brand you get they all last about the same, just avoid the bottom tier "bargain" batteries that many stores sell.

 

Sounds right. When I bought my Tacoma, it had a 8 year old true start Toyota battery that still tested good. But driving it 2 days a week killed it.

 

Interesting that it is probably the battery. I buy the Johnson controls batteries at Walmart. Years ago I bought 2 car batteries for my combine, and they went bad at 10.5 years. They were 5 year batteries.

 

Since I maintain the family cars and help my friends with theirs, I bought a battery load tester, or battery analyzer, a Topdon AB101 $40. Its my most used diagnostic tool. Its quick and accurate. I test the batteries at every oil change, before long trips - pretty much, any time I open the hood.
Last year I told my sister my tool recommended replacing her battery; she procrastinated and her battery died 3 months later, stranding her while running errands.

 

@Chuy - I see your family & extended family has a lot of Toyota products, and 3 with over 200k miles! Good to see that - I just got my first ever Toyota 3 weeks ago, also an '07 Tacoma 4X4, now with 146k miles.

Re: batteries - I've checked the oil a few times on mine, this post makes me realize I need to check the date on the battery. It's starting fine, but would be good to know. There's an online reference that indicates typical battery life based on geography. Where I am in the Northeast, it's averaging around 5-6 years. Interesting that in warmer climates it was less.

 

@Stelcom66 Yep, batteries hate heat more than the cold. I couldn't explain the exact cause but the observation stands.