Hi everyone, first time posting here. I got a problem I need help with, my 2000 Camry 4cyl has an intermittent electrical problem. It started a long time ago with lights dimming when rolling down the windows at night, however about a month ago the problem started getting worse. The lights were dimming more and more and the battery light would come on as well. Eventually the battery light would come on throughout the day, without any noticeable side effects. I checked the battery level before and after running the car. The battery started at 12.5 and ended at above 13 or so when i shut it off. I did not check the car while running at the time. One morning the car would not start, the battery level was at 12.6, but none of the accessories were working. I tired jumping it with a good car anyways and it had no effect.The positive terminal was very old so I replaced it with a new one and the car started right up. It ran fine but the battery light would come on when any load was placed on the vehicle, and I noticed my phone had a difficult time charging.
Anyhow, the car eventually started stalling when just started up if I switched the headlights on. I checked the alternator at the same time, thinking it was undercharging, and it was actually over charging at 16.4. Since the car was running fine and I needed to get home from work that day, I took it home. On the way home the car began stalling first every 15 minutes at high revs, eventually leading to a stall every couple of minutes. When the car stalls it would not fire back up for a minute or two. The starter would not engage even a little bit. After a few minutes the car starts right up no problem, only to stall and repeat the same non start a few blocks down the road. Somehow the car started up one last time and I made it home a few miles away. Since then the car starts intermittently, usually after sitting for a long period of time, only to die completely a few moments later. When I try to start it up between these times the rpm gauge moves sporadically up to 6 thousand or so revs, without the starter engaging at all. I tried to put in a perfectly good battery out of my Avalon and the same exact thing happened, the car started for a brief second only to die and never start again with that battery. I replaced the ground strap from the negative battery post to transmission at no effect.
Tests ive done:
In conclusion:
Anyhow, the car eventually started stalling when just started up if I switched the headlights on. I checked the alternator at the same time, thinking it was undercharging, and it was actually over charging at 16.4. Since the car was running fine and I needed to get home from work that day, I took it home. On the way home the car began stalling first every 15 minutes at high revs, eventually leading to a stall every couple of minutes. When the car stalls it would not fire back up for a minute or two. The starter would not engage even a little bit. After a few minutes the car starts right up no problem, only to stall and repeat the same non start a few blocks down the road. Somehow the car started up one last time and I made it home a few miles away. Since then the car starts intermittently, usually after sitting for a long period of time, only to die completely a few moments later. When I try to start it up between these times the rpm gauge moves sporadically up to 6 thousand or so revs, without the starter engaging at all. I tried to put in a perfectly good battery out of my Avalon and the same exact thing happened, the car started for a brief second only to die and never start again with that battery. I replaced the ground strap from the negative battery post to transmission at no effect.
Tests ive done:
- battery positive to starter battery cable attachment (while off) no voltage drop
- negative to transmission ground (while off) no voltage drop
- alternator b+ to battery positive no voltage drop
- alternator charging normally at 14.3 when no load, 16.5 under load with battery light on
- battery at 12.5, tested with a replacement battery from working car without any different effect
- starter is grounded with very little/no resistance
- block grounded with very little/no resistance
In conclusion:
- If the car had just stalled while running and the battery was undercharged than I would blame the alternator. But with a working battery in the car that I swapped in a bad alternator wouldn't stop the car from starting (am I right on that).
- A bad starter would cause the car to not crank, but would not have anything to do with the car stalling while moving.
- Ground cable from battery has been replaced and grounds seem good to best of my ability
- No corrosion on battery, new terminals, no voltage drop and resistance across both cables
- Ecm isnt part of the starting circuit (am i right on that?) so a bad one wouldn't cause the car to not start
