Problem starting on 99 solara, what could it be??

[99solarav6]

I trying to find out why my gf is having problem starting her 99 sle V6. When ever I jump her car it'll run and start fine for a while. Then when you tried to start it again nothing happen. I'm thinking it's the battery and not the alternator. I'm going to take her battery to test out to see if it's good. What you guys think?

[PeonHonda]

Does it make a clicking noise when you try to start it/

[ST185]

Does it turn, hard to start or just "does nothing"
How old is the battery?

[99solarav6]

Well I just put in a new battery and I'll see what happens. If she doesn't have problem starting again then it's fix. But if she have problem also with new battery then I know it's the alternator. What's the best place to pick up a alternator for solara?

[ST185]

It has very little to do with the alternator.
If the alternator went bad, it will not charge the battery.
In that case, you should have noticed the battery warning light.
You still haven't describe what really happen when you trying to turn the engine.
It could be other things, like the starter

[99solarav6]

Before when she tried to start the engine there is clicking sound. I installed the battery for her yesterday and she didn't have problem starting today. I'll wait couple of days and see how everything goes.

[marc780]

You need a volt ohmmeter, also called multimeter. Theyre not expensive and simple to use for what you want to do. You just buy or borrow one and set it for "20 volts DC" or whatever is close. Install the probes red goes to red etc.

http://da.harborfreight.com/cpisearch/web/search.do

Check the reading at the battery with the engine off. it should be about 12.8 volts, or anywhere in the range of 12.6 - 13 volts. Now start the engine. Let it idle for a couple minutes and shut off all the accesories like the a/c, radio, etc.
With engine idling, now measure at the battery again. 14.0 volts is what you want. 13.8 is permissible but low. Anywhere in the range of 13.9 to 15 volts is acceptable. Less than 13.8v with engine idling means, alternator belt is slipping, or alternator is bad, so change the alternator.

[SolaraTRD]

I had the same prob where my battery died. I recharge it. Run it for a day fine... then it days next morning when I wake up


First step is to make sure its not that battery.
- Go to Autozone and let me recharge it there with their commercial battery charger. They'll tell you if its a dead battery or not in 30 minutes. No joke.

- If its dead... change the battery (don't buy from autozone, them bastards are so cheap with batteries compared to the past)

- If you changed to a new battery, and it dies again. Most likely you have a loose/and or damaged alternator wire that CAN"T recharge your battery while driving. Look into that.

[99solarav6]

It's been two days since I stalled the new battery and everything seem to be fine now. She hasn't had problem starting since then so I guess it was the battery. I bought my from Wal-Mart which comes with 3 year warranty.

[n1cK!]

i'm also have a problem starting the solara. when i turn the key, it makes a "click" noise. i have to turn the key 3-5 times (it makes a click each time) before it finally starts up. could it be the contacts in the starter going bad?