2001 Corolla charging problems

[cfisch]

I had a bad battery on a '01 Corolla which was so dead it wouldn't take a jump. So i replaced it and then it drained very quickly so I replaced the Alternator and Serpintine belt. After a week of running around town and feeling like the battery was draining on each run and it never got better until it died this morning. I have been told that it might be a Voltage Regulator, but wanted to check before I bpoight that as well. The only other thing that I can think of is a short, or a faulty Battery Ground cable. Comments please!

Thanks,
cfisch

[Raddman]

Originally Posted by cfisch

I had a bad battery on a '01 Corolla which was so dead it wouldn't take a jump. So i replaced it and then it drained very quickly so I replaced the Alternator and Serpintine belt. After a week of running around town and feeling like the battery was draining on each run and it never got better until it died this morning. I have been told that it might be a Voltage Regulator, but wanted to check before I bpoight that as well. The only other thing that I can think of is a short, or a faulty Battery Ground cable. Comments please!

Thanks,
cfisch

No red idiot/dash lights come on? I always thought that alternators nowadays have a internal regulator in the alternator...I might be wrong...I would start by checking how much voltage is going into your battery from your cables with a voltmeter, then test the output on your alternator, I think it should be around 11-12 volts...Also check if your serpentine belt is loose/slipping it can cause it to just skip over the alternator pulley while driving...If you don't have a voltmeter most auto-part stores will do this for you free and have them check your battery cables also...As far as a fuse goes...it might be possible check your fuse book....good luck....Radd Guy...

"If you must choose between two evils, pick the one you've never tried before!"
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[cfisch]

Originally Posted by Raddman

No red idiot/dash lights come on?

Nope No iditot lights. Whats odd is that when i put a charger on the battery it started right up and reads around almost full. Then why the no starts? I tested the battery with a volt meter and it read around 12 Volts with the cables connected. Also the belt seems to be fine and every pully seems to be spinning (hopefully in the right direction ). No fuses look burnt at all. Right now i am charging it and gonna try again later.

Thanks

[cfisch]

I have a '01 Corolla and the battery died so I replaced it being it was five yrs old anyway. It then died again so I looked at the alt an the plug looked corroded (white fuzzy goo) like you get on battery terminals. I cleaned the plug contacts and the alt with a toothpick and a wire brush and the battery died again. I then bought a remanfactured alt and a serp belt. I took digital photos of the belt path prior to replacing it, only to find out that the photos were not that clear but it seems to be on the only way it fits with nothing loose and everything seems to be spinning in the right dirrection. The battery died again after two days or so. I am thinking that either the belt is on wrong (which I dought), the tensioner is blown or there is a short somewhere. Uggh!
Thanks,
Cliff

[200CorollaS2001]

2001 Corolla S here. For a long time now, alternators have the regulators built in (unless they decided recently to stop doing that). So I most likely wouldn't consider that.

I would have the battery and alternator checked at some place that offers free testing such as Autozone. A bad battery can kill an alternator, and a bad alternator can shorten the life of the battery. And I've received defective alternators before for older cars.

Honestly, I would think you have a short somewhere. The car is too young to have wiring problems I would think. But the fact that you found corrosion or deposits on the alternator's connection sounds very suspicious.

BTW, cleaning that corrosion off your battery is very easy when using windix, don't even have to scrub.

[jjsagain]

Get it tested at auto zone but buy one at advance,,,,just kidding I work for advance. The guy that said to get it tested is correct. It does not cost anything and it might solve your problem quick and easy.

[cg2ae88]

voltage regulator is built into the alternator. also with the engine running the voltage across the battery terminals should be 13.2 - 14 volts. If that is normal try adding loads to the system. For instance turn the high beams on, radio, wipers, blower on no a/c. If voltage drops to 12 volts or less you have a charging system problem.

[Raddman]

Originally Posted by cg2ae88

voltage regulator is built into the alternator. also with the engine running the voltage across the battery terminals should be 13.2 - 14 volts. If that is normal try adding loads to the system. For instance turn the high beams on, radio, wipers, blower on no a/c. If voltage drops to 12 volts or less you have a charging system problem.

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Good advice , It's been two weeks now, I would think/hope that cfisch would have found out what the problem was and had it fixed...It's sad that so many people here get their car problems solved but never re-post letting us know what it was so that others with similar problems could benefit ...That said to all of my American brothers and sisters here "HAPPY THANKSGIVING", God Bless America And Our Troops....~Radd Guy~

[cfisch]

thanks to all for your help. I finally gave in an brought it in to the shop and theyfound a faulty battery. go figure, the only thing i didn't replace twice. it was warrentied so the test and labor wound up costing $22, not so bad. thanks again all.