Dead battery or Starter Motor problem?

[Dhanu]

Hi All,

I have a 2000 Toyota Avalon XLS and it was having the "Error 1" problem with the CD player. So I disconnected the fuse name CD and plugged it back on after about 15 minutes. After that I started the car without any problems and went about 5 miles. After coming back the car won't start, it just make the click sound. (I'm not sure if I forget to lock the doors and left the lights on. But it could be that)
It seems like the battery was dead. So I tried jump starting with a friends car and we had to try about 7-8 times and finally got it started. Then I came back home (5 miles/ 10 minutes) and switched off the engine. After that it won't start again. So I called AAA (thinking my friends small car battery might lack enough power) and their tow truck came. Then we tried to jump start with that. Even though the dash board/information panel lights, hood light comes on it won't start. It just makes the click sound.
The tow truck guy told me that my battery might be dead. Currently I'm planning on buying a new battery and see if it will solve the problem.
So my questions are.
1) Can a battery die all of a sudden like that? (I had no problems and I bought the car recently, so I don't know how old the battery is)
2) How long do I need to keep the engine running for the battery to be recharged?
3) Can it be a problem with the starter motor? (I highly doubt it, coz we were able to jump start it the first time it died)
4) Any other explanations, ideas or advice?

Thanks in advance.

[fireguy17]

Sounds like it is probably the battery, with a small chance it is the starter. First off that is how the battery will show signs of failing....ALL OF A SUDDEN. usually brought on by a long time just sitting, or consuming power without the engne running. Having said that the starter can have a dead spot, and only make a clicking sound when the key is turned. This is overcome by hitting the starter with a hammer to move the armature a little, and then it will turn.

What you need to do is first check the battery. I will presume by what you have said is that you don't have a voltmeter. Easiest thing to do then is to just swap it with a battery that you know is good.

I should mention that dash lights take little power, and will come on even when the battery is low, and there is not enough power to turn the starter. A quick test is to put the headlights on before you try to start the car, and see if they dim a little, or go out when you try to start the car. If they go out, the battery is probably finished.

Also make sure that the posts, and clamps, are clean, and not oxydized.

[Dhanu]

Thanks for the reply. I called Autozone and they told me that they will check the battery for free and charge it if necessary. If the battery is dead I'll buy a new one.
- Is Duralast is a good option?

Originally Posted by fireguy17

Also make sure that the posts, and clamps, are clean, and not oxydized.

- It's little bit oxydized. I scraped it off as good as I can. Back in my country we used to pour hot water over the terminal to dissolve the oxydized particles. Do you have a better alternative?

[toyomoho]

Also check the battery terminals and cables, even the ground cable.

If corrosion use a baking soda and water mix to neutralize. Then scrape the metal until clean with a file, wire brush, etc..

[Dhanu]

Originally Posted by toyomoho

Also check the battery terminals and cables, even the ground cable.

If corrosion use a baking soda and water mix to neutralize. Then scrape the metal until clean with a file, wire brush, etc..

Thanks for the reply.

You mean check the point where the wires are connected to the battery?

[Dhanu]

Another thing that I can't understand it, even if my battery is dead why won't it jump start from another battery? I thought the whole point of doing a jump start is not depending upon the dead battery.

[toyomoho]

Should work but IF there is a problem with the cables such as corrosion, poor connection, etc there can still be problems.

It is like having a good power source but a poor wiring connection. The starter will not receive enough current and just clicks.

[Dhanu]

Originally Posted by toyomoho

Should work but IF there is a problem with the cables such as corrosion, poor connection, etc there can still be problems.

It is like having a good power source but a poor wiring connection. The starter will not receive enough current and just clicks.

So which mean since the car won't jump start most probably the problem is not a dead battery, but a poorly connected cable?

Is there a guide on how to check the cable connections? I can check the obvious place, where the cable connects to the battery. but what about the other end of the cable, where it connects to the engine? to where does it connect?

[fireguy17]

I would say that there is a 90% chance that it is a bad battery, based on my experience. All the other info given is just to cover all the bases. When jumping from another car there are many contact points which can give a bad connection, that is why it is better just to swap the battery. It takes a bit longer, but takes all the guess work out.

[Dhanu]

Problem solved.

I took the old battery to Autozone and they checked it and told me that it's dead. Bought a new Duralast battery, boiled the battery wire terminals in hot water for 15minutes to remove the oxyied and the car started without any problems.

Thanks to everyone who replied, for their valuable advice.

[Eurobob]

i have had a problem with my battery, a cell was shorted which means it was around 10.1 volts even thought i drove it all day. the short can prevent a jump from getting you car running. put a volt meter on the battery and see the voltage. all batteries have 6 cells with 2.1-2.2 volts each in series adding up to 13 or so volts. anything under 11 usually means a dead cell. when the car is on, the alternator is pumping 12.5-14 volts out. most cars will not start under 11 volts take the battery terminals off and jump it, the car will run all day on the alternator, until it is shut off. i went through 3 batteries in a year. don't buy any sears batteries, no luck on my end with those.