alternator or something else or im fine?

[fission]

I have a 94 corolla dx auto, yesterday i went to shopping to buy some stuff, the way there is fine, but after i bought stuff i needed, I try to start the car and nothing goes on, not even a light, it's like nothing happens, so i take the key out, and there is a loud click click mixed with electrical discharge souind, so i was like what's going on, i checked everything and found out i left the headlight on, so i turned off, jumped it and it starts fine. however i drove it for a while and i turned on the headlight because it's dark and as soon as i do that it's dead again, the engine + everything just shuts down, ended up i have to jumpstart it again again and again, did it for 5 times, gladly i made it back to home,

anyways and then I checked the problems, @ first i replaced the battary w/ a good one, and the car starts immediately, so i was like ok maybe it's hte battary, I checked the voltage, 12v, 14v when engine starts so I was like ok maybe the althernator is fine too, it's prolly just the rust and stuff on the battery / a loose neg terminal caused the problem.

however when I was driving back today, I found a strange problem that i never noticed before, whenever I turned on my headlight, the clock light dimms / fades, I turned headlight off, it's back again, have anyone had the same situation happen before? if not what things do you suggest that might have caused this problem?

many thanks,

zipei

[ghost_ryder35]

Originally Posted by fission

I have a 94 corolla dx auto, yesterday i went to shopping to buy some stuff, the way there is fine, but after i bought stuff i needed, I try to start the car and nothing goes on, not even a light, it's like nothing happens, so i take the key out, and there is a loud click click mixed with electrical discharge souind, so i was like what's going on, i checked everything and found out i left the headlight on, so i turned off, jumped it and it starts fine. however i drove it for a while and i turned on the headlight because it's dark and as soon as i do that it's dead again, the engine + everything just shuts down, ended up i have to jumpstart it again again and again, did it for 5 times, gladly i made it back to home,

anyways and then I checked the problems, @ first i replaced the battary w/ a good one, and the car starts immediately, so i was like ok maybe it's hte battary, I checked the voltage, 12v, 14v when engine starts so I was like ok maybe the althernator is fine too, it's prolly just the rust and stuff on the battery / a loose neg terminal caused the problem.

however when I was driving back today, I found a strange problem that i never noticed before, whenever I turned on my headlight, the clock light dimms / fades, I turned headlight off, it's back again, have anyone had the same situation happen before? if not what things do you suggest that might have caused this problem?

many thanks,

zipei

the interior lights are suppose to dim when the headlights turn on, Is the car still dieing when you turn the headlights on? Sounds like it was a bad battery, thats why when you turned the headlights on the car died because the alternator couldnt make enough juice to power the car and the headlights without the battery. You replaced the battery and now the car drives fine. Good to go.

[fission]

thanks, glad to hear that cuz i never notice those kinds of things before :-)

the battery ended up being fine, i tested it w/ a multimeter and it shows 12.7v, prolly just the connection problem b/c i had a lot of rust and other craps accumulated on the terminals, i guess just need to give it a good clean :-)