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Car trouble: please help

F

FreshPrince

Diamond Member
I have a 2000 camery that's having trouble starting.

I drove home about 30 miles no problems today, but when I tried to start it tonight, all I hear is a single click but nothing happens.

I've turned on the head and internal lights, so I don't think the battery is the problem. I also used another car to try and jump it, same thing nothing happens. I thought maybe the battery terminals have lots of corrosion, so I cleaned it off. Same thing.

That's about all I know to try, any one have other ideas?

-TIA
 
if it clicks when you have another car jumping it, then it is probably the starter solenoid

but i am not a "car guy"
 
It is probably your battery, often times the battery will have enough juice to power the lights and fans but not enough to crank the starter over.
Replace it.
 
Originally posted by: FreshPrince
Originally posted by: myusername
tap the starter gently with a hammer and try again.
Click to expand...
I have no idea where the starter is, what does it look like? 😱
Click to expand...
no idea 😱
mine is on the bottom by the bellhousing, but I thought the last time someone on ATOT had this problem with a camry, the starter was on top and didn't even look like a starter to me.
 
Originally posted by: redly1
Originally posted by: QuitBanningMe
battery
/thread
Click to expand...

you might check the alternator (auto parts store should be able to do it) after you replace that battery
Click to expand...

Although the alternator could be bad and probably is it will have no effect on starting the car.

Battery
/thread

Also before you go replacing the alternator clean that corrosion off.
 
Originally posted by: QuitBanningMe
Originally posted by: redly1
Originally posted by: QuitBanningMe
battery
/thread
Click to expand...

you might check the alternator (auto parts store should be able to do it) after you replace that battery
Click to expand...

Although the alternator could be bad it will have no effect on starting the car.

Battery
/thread
Click to expand...


if the alternator was bad, the battery would have drained down and could have died (it is 5 yrs old)
also, the corrosion on the battery could have added resistance to the connection between the alternator and battery that could have contributed to the alternator's (and battery's) demise

and YEAH..clean that damn corrosion off. get a brillo pad and run until it's almost shiny
 
Starter for sure dude. I had the same problem with my 82 bmw. Pulled out a BFH and gave it a whack and away I went.

Get it to a shop, tell them you want to replace the starter, and you'll be good to go. It is NOT THE BATTERY. The clicking sound is the starter not working.

[edit] I've had batteries die, and when they do, the starter doesn't tick. Trust me. I've had a battery die because the alternator was dead, and the starter wouldn't tick, and I couldn't pop the clutch to get it started either.
 
Originally posted by: redly1
Originally posted by: QuitBanningMe
Originally posted by: redly1
Originally posted by: QuitBanningMe
battery
/thread
Click to expand...

you might check the alternator (auto parts store should be able to do it) after you replace that battery
Click to expand...

Although the alternator could be bad it will have no effect on starting the car.

Battery
/thread
Click to expand...


if the alternator was bad, the battery would have drained down and could have died (it is 5 yrs old)
also, the corrosion on the battery could have added resistance to the connection between the alternator and battery that could have contributed to the alternator's (and battery's) demise
Click to expand...
Check my edit. 😉
 
Originally posted by: BobDaMenkey
Starter for sure dude. I had the same problem with my 82 bmw. Pulled out a BFH and gave it a whack and away I went.

Get it to a shop, tell them you want to replace the starter, and you'll be good to go. It is NOT THE BATTERY. The clicking sound is the starter not working.
Click to expand...

Wrong. More often the clicking sound is the result of a dead battery not generating enough power to turn the starter.
 
Originally posted by: QuitBanningMe

Check my edit. 😉
Click to expand...

well, to get really down to it, the alternator WOULD have an effect on the vehicle not starting if it was the culprit in the battery being drained 😉

 
Originally posted by: redly1
Originally posted by: QuitBanningMe

Check my edit. 😉
Click to expand...

well, to get really down to it, the alternator WOULD have an effect on the vehicle not starting if it was the culprit in the battery being drained 😉
Click to expand...

Not if you had a jump battery hooked up. The car would start whether the alt was charging or not. My bet goes to he didn't leave the jump car hooked up long enough or the battery cables are not making proper contact.
 
Originally posted by: QuitBanningMe

Not if you had a jump battery hooked up. The car would start wheather the alt was charging or not. My bet goes to he didn't leave the jump car hooked up long enough or the battery cables are not making proper contact.
Click to expand...

and when did the OP do that??


AH, my bad, overlooked that part
 
Originally posted by: QuitBanningMe
Originally posted by: BobDaMenkey
Starter for sure dude. I had the same problem with my 82 bmw. Pulled out a BFH and gave it a whack and away I went.

Get it to a shop, tell them you want to replace the starter, and you'll be good to go. It is NOT THE BATTERY. The clicking sound is the starter not working.
Click to expand...

Wrong. More often the clicking sound is the result of a dead battery not generating enough power to turn the starter.
Click to expand...

If it's a 5 year old battery, it's almost certainly the battery, but he did try to jump it. Unless he has crappy cables, he should have at least gotten the engine to crank doing that.

Although, I did run into a situation just like that - used my friends cheap jumper cables and got nothing. After replacing the starter relay and hammering on the starter a couple times did nothing, I tried with my own cables and got it to turn.

Interestingly enough, I took my old battery to be tested and it checked out okay, even though I later discovered acid leaking out the terminals.

Replaced with a redtop and no more problems 🙂
 
VERY easy test to see if it's the battery. Turn on the headlights, and get someone to look into them, then try to crank the car. If they go completely out, then it's the battery. If they just dim, then my money would be on the starter solenoid.
Dad's been a mechanic for 35 years. His idea, not mine.
 
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