Electrical Problems!

by **Akui** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 8:57 pm

Hi guys, sorry if this has been posted (or something similar) but I really need some help fast.

My car, as is, will not start. Will not turn over, barely makes a sound when i try to start her up.

I left my work's parking lot with everything fine and peachy; car started up without a hitch, no indicator lights, nothing. I drove home (about 15 miles) and parked my car right in front of my garage. I went inside to open the garage (garage opener is busted). Got back into my car, and it wouldn't start. Not a sound, just key turned all the way and... nothing.

First I suspected the battery. Even if it had been driven 15 or so miles, maybe the alternator belt was loose and the battery wasn't getting a charge. (Note, I don't think the belt is loose at all, this was just my first assumption). I grabbed my car jumper (a little self contained battery starting unit), hooked it up, and tried to start. Noise, lots of it. Even some sparks from the block where I attached the ground of my starter. I double checked the instructions and connections and everything was fine. Still, no start.

I grabbed my multimeter to test the charge of the battery. 12.4 volts. That might have been a surface charge, but I'm really doubting at this point that the battery is bad.

Now I start to poke around. When I open the door of the car, the interior lights come on just fine. The 'security' light blinks just fine. The door ajar light is on just fine. The other interior lights in front of the moonroof operate just fine. The power driver's seat operates just fine. Put in the key and turn and:

All the lights of the dash light up like they normally would. The light from the radio and the climate control blink on, then off, then flicker back to off. I try the headlights with the car off. Nothing. I try the highbeams... takes a second and then the headlights flicker on and off with very little brightness. Oddly enough, there's a little clicking sound right by the interior fuse box when I hold the highbeams on. I think this is probably just the relay that's flickering. When I try the emergency lights there's initially some noise behind the dash, then they work just fine.

I'm really out of ideas here. I'm not much of a mechanic or car electrician, so I'm imploring all of you to lend me your wisdom!

Please help!

Website · by **Turbosolara** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 9:08 pm

my guess is your had a bad oxidized terminals or a dead battery.

there are many autoshops could test your battery for free.

by **onefiend** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 9:11 pm

if you're still using the original battery that the car came with then you might need to buy a new one.

by **Akui** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 9:50 pm

Thanks for the input guys, but I don't think that's it.

I thought I'd double check whether or not the battery was no good. I went into the garage to try jump starting it again with my jumper. Before I even got there I hear a constant thumping sound.

I get to the car, and it's clear that the sound is coming from the engine compartment. I open the door. The door ajar light is flickering on and off in rhythm with the thumping sound.

I pop the hood and take a look inside. The sound is almost certainly coming from the battery area. It's definitely not coming from the starter or the battery itself. It sounded like it was coming from directly beneath the battery, but there's not a whole lot there.

I disconnected the negative terminal of the battery, and immediately the sound stopped. Reconnect it and it starts up again.

The sound is constant with intervals slightly under a second. It sounds like a louder version of oil hitting the pan...

I'm lost. Please help.

by **Sparticus** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 4:52 am

i'm not sure what it is.. But when my battery was bad, when I tried to start it, All it made was rapid clicking noises when i turned the key.

by **Hybridlude97** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 6:25 am

Sounds like some crazy problems your having. While you may not think its the battery, in the realm of troublshooting you should always start with the easiest fix first. How old is your current battery? Does it have a little viewing window on it that shows either green, red, or nothing? It also wouldnt hurt to pop off the fuse panel cover and just look around in there for any blown or loose fuses. If that doesnt fix the problem then start to dig deeper.

by **HID04V6** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 6:25 am

My other car made a ton of clicking noises when the alternator itself was bad- might want to check that out.

by **Solorange** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 10:39 am

Yeah it could be the alternator. It may not be charging your battery so that could be why its dead. Also clean the battery terminals. I had an issue with that before. But take the car to autozone they can test the battery and the alternator.

by **Akui** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 10:53 am

Guys,

Thanks again very much for all of your input. I didn't believe it before, but I'm seriously starting to doubt the battery. It's the original battery that the car came with and I've got a 2000 Solara. I guess it's right about time for it to die a horrible horrible death.

This morning I took out the battery from my Camry and tried connecting it to my Solara. As soon as I connected the negative terminal the alarm starts going off. Then I got to thinking. Maybe that constant thumping sound was the alarm trying to go off but not having enough juice from the battery to do so. The intervals between sounds is just about right.

What I should have done (but didn't

) was to have tried connecting the "bad" battery back up to my Solara. I also should have tried connecting the "bad" battery up to my Camry. I didn't have much time to fiddle with it before going to work though.

I did check the voltage across the battery and it's a good 12.5v. I believe the surface charge should have dissipated from all my lights checking, alarm clicking, etc. The fluid levels are high and the eye of the battery was a green. It was a slightly dim green but unmistakably green.

In any case, I've got the battery in the back of my Camry and I'll be taking it to the store to have it checked out. I'll probably just buy a new battery regardless since this one is so old.

Will keep you posted! Thanks again!

by **Akui** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 10:55 am

Quick question. How much would servicing/replacing the alternator cost me? It could have been the battery just going bad, or maybe the alternator wasn't feeding it enough power to keep charged. I just need a ballpark figure in case I end up needing to get it checked out.

Thanks!

by **Hybridlude97** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 11:25 am

When alternators goes bad, usually they make a whining noise.

by **onefiend** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 11:33 am

Depending on what brand and what amp, alternator prices could vary.
You're looking to spend somewhere between $100-$200.
http://pa.partsandaccessories.com/parts/partsandaccessories/wizard.jsp?year=2000&make=TO&model=SOL-CPE-001&category=All&part=Alternator&dp=true
here's a link that shows a few alternator options.

It does seem like all you need is a new battery though.

by **krook** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 12:06 pm

more likely it's the battery. i did an install on a Chevy Impala and i had the door open the whole time. the way Chevy's are, the door floodlight remains ON the ENTIRE time the door is kept open.

obviously, this drained the battery. when i tried to start the car, i got that same "thumping noise" you're talking about. it's the battery.

by **Akui** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 9:01 pm

Woot.

Thanks to everyone who gave input!

It was indeed the battery. I took it to get tested and the guy's machine wouldn't even register it. Go figure. I promptly bought a new one, took it home, and she fired up on the first try.

I'll be darned... stupid battery

Electrical Problems!

Electrical Problems!

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