car trouble today any ideas? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

WickedGen3 · 10-22-2003, 10:49 PM

hey guys.. today i started up my 92 camry and it started up fine.. but when i drove it to my friends house and shut the engine.. after i came back to the car and try to start it .. NOTHING.. no sound just the lights came on.. none of that ping sound.. nor the sound of the starter or any sign of a crank.. but after a few tries i was able to start her up.. after that there was no problems .. any one has any idea of whats going on? it has about 130xxx miles on it .. could it be a starter related problem? i mean today was pretty cold.. one of my freinds told me about the starter relay? could that be it? any help would be great .. thanks

Joey

***Eye8Pussies*** · 10-22-2003, 10:53 PM

were there any clicking sounds?

if there weren't, then I think it might be the starter relay.....maybe a wire jiggled loose or something...?

Nick · 10-22-2003, 11:02 PM

if there was one click when you turned the key, it might be a stuck starter motor, or a selenoid problem

or even the plunger that comes out to meet the fly wheel

its defenitely starter related, relay possibly also

5Sfte · 10-22-2003, 11:14 PM

How long have you been using that particular battery?

Nick · 10-22-2003, 11:17 PM

ah yes, could be the battery, but i still think there would be the click of the selenoid pulling its plunger

5Sfte · 10-22-2003, 11:21 PM

If it is the battery, the lights should go dim (headlights, radio, clock) when you try to turn the key to the start position.

Also, is it standard or auto?

WickedGen3 · 10-22-2003, 11:22 PM

ok all i know that is on the second try to start the car up i heard 1 click.. and after that none.. and on the third try.. the car started.. and the battery has been used for less than a year.. i had this problem last winter.. just that i replaced the starter and battery last year.. but i'm leaning toward the starter relay or that flywheel problem.. i'm pretty new at this .. but i also have a hunch that is those things attached to the battery.. i think its called terminals.. ??? maybe its not giving enough power back to the battery.. ?? well for now i can start it but dont' know about tomorrow..

thanks guys for the fast replies..

Joey

5Sfte · 10-22-2003, 11:24 PM

Make sure the terminals are tightly secured to the terminals, they should not come loose if you pull on them.

Nick · 10-22-2003, 11:28 PM

clean up the terminals with sand paper, the clamps too

WickedGen3 · 10-22-2003, 11:31 PM

i dont' think the terminals are loose.. but if in case i do need to replace the terminals.. how much does the dealer sell it ..? ? do i also clean the battery with the sand paper as well?

Nick · 10-22-2003, 11:35 PM

you can pick up the clamps from any parts store for a few bucks

sandpaper to the terminals, just take off the rust that's on there

5Sfte · 10-23-2003, 05:06 PM

My brother once told me that if you superglue a nut between the terminals, it will collect all the corrosion instead of the terminals. Has anyone ever heard of this?

***Tercel GTS*** · 10-23-2003, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 5Sfte
If it is the battery, the lights should go dim (headlights, radio, clock) when you try to turn the key to the start position.

The answer to that may be the clue needed to solve your problem.

Quote:

My brother once told me that if you superglue a nut between the terminals, it will collect all the corrosion instead of the terminals. Has anyone ever heard of this?

Not with a nut I haven't, but, old timers used to just sit a penny on the battery near each terminal, the copper attarcts the corrosive elements instead of the lead. This doesn't stop the corrosion, but does slow it considerably, once the pennies start to corrode, replace them. Harsh driving may require a little tape to hold the pennies on.

WickedGen3 · 10-23-2003, 09:11 PM

how come also when i turn on the headlights and when i pull all the window switches.. the head lights /dash lights.. they all dim for some reason? bad alternator?? well i've got new terminals.. just waiting to see what the out come is.. i got them at toyota today .. 15$ each.. so small investment let's see if its worth it..

anyway.. thanks for the replies guys.. if anything pops up then i'll update..

Joey

5Sfte · 10-23-2003, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by WickedGen3
how come also when i turn on the headlights and when i pull all the window switches.. the head lights /dash lights.. they all dim for some reason? bad alternator?? Joey

You are placing more load on the alternator. The only way to counteract this is to speed up the armature of the alternator (i.e. stepping on the gas) or to place an isnchronous governor on the alternator. This would allow the alternator to pick up and drop load without losing speed. It would be senseless to do this though because you are not placing a great enough load on the alternator to cause undervoltage or shut down the engine. In other words, it is a natural occurence and it does not mean the alternator is bad.