Alternator/Battery

[NM2]

2003 Camry, never had any problems, 100k.
Now: could not start, everything are dead, even no horn, use a jump start, started, but went dead on first intersection. Went to Pepboys, check: buttery totally dead, replaced. Check alternator with special device - does not work. Replaced alternator( refurbished with total waranty). Started to drive, on first light, during idling, battery red icon appered, return to shop, the adjusted idling and apologyes. Started drive, again battery red ligh on dashboard came and car stoped. Retuned to Pepboys. They apologyes again and will check everything again.
Any suggestions and advices? Please help me. Thanks to everybody who will answer.
NM2

[Yuko]

Does it have the 2.2 I4 engine? The 02-04 models are known to "forget" how to idle whenever the battery is disconnected. It take a while for it to "remember" and adjust back to the correct idle. Just try driving the car around for about 10 minutes with some highway miles and it should return to normal.

Also, I don't think the idle can be adjusted on the gen 5 Camrys.

[NM2]

Originally Posted by Yuko

Does it have the 2.2 I4 engine? The 02-04 models are known to "forget" how to idle whenever the battery is disconnected. It take a while for it to "remember" and adjust back to the correct idle. Just try driving the car around for about 10 minutes with some highway miles and it should return to normal.

Also, I don't think the idle can be adjusted on the gen 5 Camrys.

Thanks a lot, Any other ideas, I just do not want Pepboys people reap me off and say change this, change that. I hope they chacked belt....
Will wait for your advice.

[Luna2]

Originally Posted by NM2

2003 Camry, never had any problems, 100k.
Now: could not start, everything are dead, even no horn, use a jump start, started, but went dead on first intersection. Went to Pepboys, check: buttery totally dead, replaced. Check alternator with special device - does not work. Replaced alternator( refurbished with total waranty). Started to drive, on first light, during idling, battery red icon appered, return to shop, the adjusted idling and apologyes. Started drive, again battery red ligh on dashboard came and car stoped. Retuned to Pepboys. They apologyes again and will check everything again.
Any suggestions and advices? Please help me. Thanks to everybody who will answer.
NM2

Try the following;
http://www.v6z24.com/howto/idlerelearn

I located this information in a thread about 15 threads below your question.
Here;
http://www.v6z24.com/howto/idlerelearn

This should help you to correct the idle problem.

[gdanaher]

In reading your posts I am not certain if the altenator light comes on andthen the engine dies, or if the engine is idling so slowly that the alternator ceases to generate and the light comes on. Pleas clarify. But as stated, if the cars computer is disconnected from the battery it will lose its larned memory and when reconnected will boot back up with a default setting that might not be correct. drive the car for a period of time and distance--several miles. Stop and start it a few times over several hours. If the issue is the computer needing to relearn, it will cure itself. Beyond that it is easy to know if the electrical system is working simply by using a 3 dollar volt meter from Harbor Freight.

[Donald E. George]

About 14.8 volts measured across battery terminals at proper idle speed if alternator is functioning.

[fatngs]

have the alternator and battery tested somewhere thats NOT pepboys..... advance will do it free

[redtigerrocks]

It could be your starter also. I also had similar symptoms on my 02 Camry and NTB misdiagnosed my issue as a battery failure but it turned out that the starter was starting to fail.