Electrical Problems

[John Doll]

I have 1993 Camry XLE. The starter will barely turn over. I have replaced both the battery and the starter. Also when I hit the brakes the brake lights cause the headlights to dim momentarily. Do I have a bad negative battery cable? Where does the negative cable mount to the frame? Thanks

[davemac2]

you might. Try using a good jumper cable to the negative terminal and to somewhere with exposed metal on the engine or chassis to see if that improves the starting or the headlight dimming issue. It may also be a corroded positive terminal of course within the crimp on the cable. I think the usual spot for the negative cable termination is the fender isn't it?

dave mc

[John Doll]

I tried that with the jumper cable. What else might cause this. I think they are both related since they started at the same time.

[toysarefun]

Or the new battery is junk, or your alternator/charging system is junk, or you have a possible short circuited or bad wire somewhere and you hope that's not what the problem is because it's harder than hell to figure out usually. The problems are related, your losing battery power connection somewhere.

[John Doll]

The new battery turned out to be defective. And it was an Optima battery.