I have a 99 Solara that has been giving me trouble. The alarm goes off at random times, and has been for about a year. (I just recently began working on my own car and I know I'm a little late with the alarm issue, but I thought it was just sensitive. I'm in South Louisiana and it gets REALLY hot and humid.) I just replaced my alternator and positive battery cable, but something seems like it's drawing power. My car is slow to start, it struggles like the battery's almost dead, but if I just keep the key turned it will eventually start. Once the car is running everything is fine. Any help would be appreciated. I know it's not the starter, the battery or the alternator, as these are all either new or have been tested.
Well I'm new at this so I haven't checked the spark plugs yet, but the alarm is factory. How do I check the amp/voltage on the alternator? And are the spark plugs something I can do on my own or is that something I should have a professional do?
Is it a six or four cylinder? Four is easy to replace the spark plugs; the back ones on the V6 is a little more difficult to replace, and if you are not use to working on car it could be frustrating.
Your description indicate you may have a electrical draw, that is if you are positive that the battery is good. You should check the electrical system for current draw with a digital multi-meter; any kind of draw over 50mA will drain the battery over night or cause the starter to crank over slow.
Yes, with the car off disconnect the negitive terminal. Put a multimeter /ammeter between it (one probe on the cars negitive clamp, the other on the negitive post.) If using a digital meter with manual setting, go xxx mA setting or similar. See what the current draw is, if its above the 50mA like mentioned, start pulling fuses in the fuse panel and see what knocks down the rating. Any load higher than 10A will most likely pop the internal meter fuse, so you should not turn the car on.
Maybe you have a funky chasis ground.
To test the running electrical system you'd just put a load tester on it. I'm sure local part stores will do it for free. Testing current output of an alternator would be fairly difficult.
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I have a 99 Solara that has been giving me trouble. The alarm goes off at random times, and has been for about a year. (I just recently began working on my own car and I know I'm a little late with the alarm issue, but I thought it was just sensitive. I'm in South Louisiana and it gets REALLY hot and humid.) I just replaced my alternator and positive battery cable, but something seems like it's drawing power. My car is slow to start, it struggles like the battery's almost dead, but if I just keep the key turned it will eventually start. Once the car is running everything is fine. Any help would be appreciated. I know it's not the starter, the battery or the alternator, as these are all either new or have been tested.
I had this EXACT same problem with my car, minus some of the cranking issues. Heres what it was, one of the SMALLER cables from the fuse box, to the positive battery terminal had a break in it, and it would come lose, my alarm would go off whenever it wanted to, all sorts of idiot lights in the gauge cluster would flash, my radio and A/C would come on and off whenever they wanted to, and my engine even stalled once. So I went to autozone and bought a new negative cable, and a new positive. I ran my positive to the starter (obviously) and then cut my problem cables back, soldered them and heat shrunk them. Then I installed them into a new gold plated terminal. Knock on wood there, As for the negative, I ran the main ground to the top of the transmission. Right around the bell housing. Then, I made a secondary ground with a piece of 8AWG cable, drilled a hole in the frame of the engine bay and made an additional ground point. Been that way for about a year now, not a problem. Hope this helps.
-Jake
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99 Solara SLE V6- Black on Tan: Blackout headlights, FSTB, oil catch can, IK20's, NGK blues, Alpine HU, 12" JL woofer, debadged, custom grill....oh yeah...and fresh paint! I'm an active member of www.solaraguy.com
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