04 solara wouldnt start

[kwanpen]

Yesterday afternoon when i was on my way to work, i start the car perfectly fine, but then i had to go grab something at my house real quick so i turned my car off, when i came back and try to start the car, the car wouldn't start.

it sounds like it wouldnt crank. Then after awhile the unlocking and locking door beep sound got shorten by half a beep, so i suspect it was the battery problem.

After work, my coworker find out the battery is fine, so that was out of question. Then we had checked the fuses and they were fine, tried to start with another key but no luck. We tried to reset the computer by disconnecting and reconnecting the battery, and after that the car went crazy. the locking and unlocking system chooses when they want to work, when i started my car, car wouldn't crank but the radio was on(which didn't happen before work), butnall the lights went crazy on the panel, they blinks like crazy.

i have no idea whats wrong, any expert that can help me out?

thanks

[new echo owner]

How did he know that the battery is find? Did he tested the battery? Did you try to jump it? Does the car have an alarm system?

N.E.O.

[kwanpen]

he tested it with a voltmeter and it was reading 12.5 V

The car does not have an alarm system but it does that theft prevention indicator light available ( i dont know if thats the term)

[new echo owner]

Voltage test alone is not a valid test, it require sufficient amperage to crank the engine over; a weak battery may still have a good voltage reading if all the cells are good but discharged. Your description fits the symptoms of a weak battery. I would suggest getting a jump and then have the charging system and battery check.

N.E.O.

[kwanpen]

ur right..we change the battery and that was the problem.
THe car starts now. However, my unlocking and locking function still doesnt work. and the temperature indicator is showing 32F, and my theft lock blinking lgihts no longer blinks. what could have been the problem

[new echo owner]

Which unlocking and locking function are you referring to? The switches on the door, or the wireless remote buttons? Did someone try to jump start the car and connect the battery backward?

N.E.O.

[kwanpen]

we havent tried jump start the car since we figured our battery was 4 yrs old it was time to change it anyways.

and yes..the remote control to the switches in the car dont work.

and the anti theft red blinking light dont blink either

[new echo owner]

Some of the system may just need to be reset; however, I won't be able to help with that. Take a look in the owner's manual, it will explain to you what needs to be done if you had lost battery power.

The anti-theft light, do you have a key in the ignition? That would turn off the anti-theft light.

N.E.O.

[kwanpen]

Thanks for your reply. let me clarify on my answers

The anti-theft light, after i read the owner's manual, it is called the theft deterrent system. The indicator light is supposed to start flashing when I pull the key out. However after i changed my battery, the light stop flashing, nor did i see any lights on it. It just turned off (even when i have my keys on ignition or off)

Another thing happened after the battery change was, my automatic door locking and unlocking functions with the remote control got disabled. I need to lock the door manually now instead of pressing the button on my remote control. Funny thing is they chose when to work, sometimes after i drove for a good 5 to 10 mins, it works for one locking and unlocking then it stopped. Somestimes it just dont work. That i suspect it might be the remote control battery running low, but is there any other valid reason that u guys can think of.

I am running out of ideas, I just hope my car is not running straight from the battery now because that would mean i have an alternator problem. Did solara need a computer reset after i changed my battery? I tried to look up in the manual and they have say nothing about what to expect after a battery change

[new echo owner]

The door lock and the theft-deterrent problems might be related, since both have to work together, in a sense when you press the button on the remote, the alarm needs to be disabled. Except for checking the fuses, I can't think of anything that would cause the system to quit working. That was one of the reason I asked if you had try to jump start the car at one time; if the car was jumped with the battery hooked up wrong, it can cause all kinds of electrical related issues and not to mention the car might not start.

As for the alternator, there would be warning lights if the alternator is not charging. The systems that may need reset vary depending on options, auto windows and sliding roof, etc.

N.E.O.