'00 Corolla wont start without a Boost (1yr. old Batt)

[ricky_s]

Hey guys,

So I turned my car off to fuel up. After done fueling I put the Key in the ignition and none of the lights came on, and the car wouldn't start. I could barely hear, (faint noise) of the sound that comes on when the driver door is open and the key is in the ignition.

I had some WD40 in the car so I sprayed that on both terminals and that was no help. So I had to get a boost from someone. The car started immediatly when I connected the cables. I left it running for 3-4 mins and then I drove off.

While I was driving I had the fan on full and the heat crancked all the way up. I turned on the signal indicator and as the indicator was blinking I could hear/feel the load being put on the system. The fan's sound would change as the indicator was blinking. I could also see the headlights getting dim just a bit as the indicator was on.

Well I got home, shut the car off and then immediately try to start again. But it didn't start same problem as before none of the lights lit up.

So guys what could be the problem? The alternator? or the battery? or something else?

I've had the battery for only a year or year n half. I hadn't experience this problem before. That entire day I had no problem with the car starting or the lights until I fueled up.

[Bitter]

loose/corroded connection somewhere in the starting/charging system?

[craig01b]

Find a voltmeter, get the car running. The voltage should be 14.5 or higher accross the battery with the engine runnin. If the battery is that new, probably voltage reg/alternator.

Good luck,

Craig

[REN69]

yep, alternator is not charging the battery properly anymore... I've done that before, replaced the battery then the alternator goes a few weeks later.

[ricky_s]

Hey fellows,

Thanks for the responses. The problem was both the battery terminals were corroded. They looked fine but when I got home and unscrewed the terminals all the corrosion was built up under the contacts. So from outside they looked good.

Anyways I went out and bought new terminals and now the car starts perfectly.

[craig01b]

Nice easy fix....work it into the routine maintenance. These things should be checked annually. Well done

C

[Woodyg]

I was always under the impression that the alternator needed to be putting out enough power to run whatever power items the car was using. if this did not happen eventually the car would die. the OP said that after it was jumped the likes went dim. I used to take the battery out of my car after it was started and drive it around without any issue. I would at a min check the belt and tensionor.

[craig01b]

The voltage regulator, or alternator if failing, can supply enough juice to run the car, but NOT charge the battery. Much easier to use a voltmeter, rather than pulling a battery out. Lights going dim, or *slow* turn indicators are another clue. A slipping belt is usually noisy, but, if you are poking around under the hood, its not a bad thing to check.

C

[Woodyg]

Originally Posted by craig01b

The voltage regulator, or alternator if failing, can supply enough juice to run the car, but NOT charge the battery. Much easier to use a voltmeter, rather than pulling a battery out. Lights going dim, or *slow* turn indicators are another clue. A slipping belt is usually noisy, but, if you are poking around under the hood, its not a bad thing to check.

C

CRAIG is correct. I should make myself clear. I am not recommending anyone take there battery out and drive. this is not a good thing to do. I was just using that as an example of how the car still ran fine without a battery because the Alternator produces enough power to run the car. cars since the 80's are sophisticated electronic equipment and I would not run with out a battery. use a multimeter to test the equipment. I have also noticed that in cars i have owned when it was raining and the battery light came on. I believe every time this happened it was a bad alternator....