it this a sign of a dying battery, not starting - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

somekid · 05-13-2008, 02:44 PM

my car wont seem to start, or it having starting problem, i have a 97 camry 4cyl

when i turn the key to the crank position, i hear a couple click and silent after that. no cranking sound. all the light on the dash (door open, check battery, etc.) all go dim, and then out. but it will turn back on when the key go back to on position.

also, this might play a role in the problem as well. there's seem to be something wrong w/ the electrical system b/c when i turn on headlight i keep hearing this clicking sound, but the headlight wont turn on. also when i attach the fog light to the battery and try to turn it on the relay keep making clicking sound. but the fog light will work fine when i attach it to a jumpstart battery.

is this a sign of a battery not supplying enough juice, according to a few thread i read.

also used the jumpstart once, should i recharge it b4 trying to jumpstart again.

any1 could suggest me where to look first.

thanks

.Camryman97. · 05-13-2008, 03:34 PM

well it also depends on how old your battery is

if its really old its probably just out of juice

you should probably get your alt checked to just to make sure its still working good

ShawnM · 05-13-2008, 04:02 PM

Sure sounds like a weak battery to me.

somekid · 05-13-2008, 04:11 PM

i bought the car back in end of feb, and the battery seem small and old. how long do car battery usually last, it might be the original. battery i think read around 12.3v if that matter

i been having a lot of problem w/ tryign to start in the last couple of day, since it got drain on last thursday. anyone know hwo loing i should drive to charge it agian.

.Camryman97. · 05-13-2008, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by somekid

i bought the car back in end of feb, and the battery seem small and old. how long do car battery usually last, it might be the original. battery i think read around 12.3v if that matter

i been having a lot of problem w/ tryign to start in the last couple of day, since it got drain on last thursday. anyone know hwo loing i should drive to charge it agian.

yeah i would say to just change it and it'll probably be all better

couchman487 · 05-13-2008, 04:25 PM

Go to your local auto parts/service store and ask them to test your batt/alt/charging system.

And from my personal experience, a car batt. should last around 3-5 years.

somekid · 05-13-2008, 04:31 PM

thanks for all the response, ill prob take it to get it check first thing.

Now if only i can get it start

. hopefully i can go get a car to jump start w/.

Creeps228 · 05-13-2008, 06:19 PM

that wierd you say the car mkaes click noises when you try to start it also, the light on the dash turn off when you try to crank but on when its on the "ON" position. Sounds like a weak battery but check you alternator. and the 12.3V on the battery when the car was off or when it was last on?

somekid · 05-13-2008, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Creeps228

that wierd you say the car mkaes click noises when you try to start it also, the light on the dash turn off when you try to crank but on when its on the "ON" position. Sounds like a weak battery but check you alternator. and the 12.3V on the battery when the car was off or when it was last on?

i think it a weak battery, since it wont power my headlight, or fog light. the relay for the fog light at least is making the clicking sound, not sure where the head light sound came from. the 12.3v is when it off.

Turn out when i try to jumpstart w/ my kit, it didnt have enough juice in it also, so it wont crank, but when i jumstart w/ another car it work. went straight down to les schwab and got the battery replace. kinda costly. but so far so good.

kinda funny i drove to les schwab, park, went inside get the paper work, the guy came out to bring the car to shop and it wont start, had to jumpstart it. either a very dead battery or some faulty wiring i think

anyway ill wait a couple of days, and a couple of drive back and forth and see how it go.

Toy_Dreamer · 05-13-2008, 11:35 PM

get an optima. there a little pricey, but i have not had a problem with my car since then.

somekid · 05-13-2008, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toy_Dreamer

get an optima. there a little pricey, but i have not had a problem with my car since then.

it's kinda late...beside i have no money

....w/ 60month guarantee im pretty sure i can get something else better than.... and maybe a new car...

Toy_Dreamer · 05-13-2008, 11:40 PM

yes, a new car would work. haha

picabu · 05-14-2008, 09:10 AM

Try to take off the battery terminal , clean and put back nice and tight first and see if it helps. Happened to me exactly same...I cleaned and tightened the terminals and everything works fine afterward.

nikita · 05-14-2008, 09:16 AM

12.3v is almost fully charged. I agree with the last posting. Clean the terminals.
If you have a voltmeter to measure the battery when the car is off, after you get it running, test the voltage again. It should be 13.5-14.5. If not, the alternator is suspect.

picabu · 05-14-2008, 09:28 AM

Do this if you don't have a volt meter:

If cleaning and tightening the terminals did not do anything....next step I would do is get a jump start. While the engine running, remove teh positive battery terminal. Becareful not to shock yourself.... and Do not touch the pos terminal to any metal part...I would wrap it with a towel or something.

If the engine continue to run after the positive terminal is off that means the alternator is fine...it's supply power to the engine and keep it running. If it stutter and die then the alternator is bad.