need help diagnosing problem 92 camry

[gorobei]

need some help trying to figure out a engine problem. I'm planning on taking it to some local shop but I would at least like to get an idea of what we're looking at.

my moms 92 camry 6cyl wouldnt start today, the starter goes but just makes a clicking sound and the engine wont turn over. belts look ok, no visible failure points, fluids seem ok at least for a cold engine. it was fully serviced 18 months ago, so i'm thinking starter or something in that area.

any ideas?

 

[jlee]

Clicking starter usually means low / bad battery or a poor connection on the battery or starter.

 

[gorobei]

ah, thanks.

i have a jump pack, i'll give it a try a little later this evening.

 

[exdeath]

Clicking starter usually means low / bad battery or a poor connection on the battery or starter.

This.

There is barely enough juice to activate the solenoid, but as soon as the starter circuit is complete, it can no longer power the solenoid due to the demand on the weak battery. So the solenoid loses power and breaks the starter circuit, the load from the starter is removed... now there is enough juice for the solenoid again, rince repeat and you have classic clicking sound of a dead battery.

 

[gorobei]

gah. tried the jump pack, no dice. but it's been a while since i used the pack. i'm charging it overnight and will try again in the morning.

 

[Rifter]

booster pack will not help if its a loose connection on the starter.

Check the power wire from the + terminal on the battery to the starter and make sure it is tight at all connections and not corroded.

Also make sure the ground wire is good too.

 

[soccerballtux]

most likely battery is low. Get someone to jump it with you with their car-- connect the cables and leave it connected for 20 minutes to let the battery charge.

 

[bigi]

Clicking starter usually means low / bad battery or a poor connection on the battery or starter.

+1, not enough juice.

 

[MiataNC]

If it isn't the battery or cables....

One quirk about those older Toyotas is a brass contact disk inside the solenoid/bendix. Over time it gets scorched/carboned up and no longer makes solid contact.

The simple fix is to replace the starter, but you can take the solenoid apart and flip the disk over if you are cheap and handy.

 

[dud]

most likely battery is low. Get someone to jump it with you with their car-- connect the cables and leave it connected for 20 minutes to let the battery charge.

... then drive it to a local auto parts store and have it checked. Often, when a battery goes too low it is time to replace it. If the car fails to start at the store you will already be there to replace it.

 

[gorobei]

update:
jump pack still didnt work, but a jumpstart from a friend's car did. I'll try driving it on a long trip(ending at a parts store) to see if it holds a charge and probably get a new battery regardless.

Thanks to all for the help and guidance. the clicking was new for me, most battery problems i've encountered have been dim lights and no starter movement(so it was clearly the battery that was the problem). I'm a little irked the jump pack didnt work tho.

 

[soccerballtux]

you only need a 20 minute drive to recharge it if it's going to hold a charge. Car alternators can put out upwards of 1500 watts they get the battery recharged pretty quick.

 

[T2urtle]

^ this might be true but he must find the root of the problem.

If his alternator isn't charging his battery he can drive for days and shut it off for 2 hours and not start again. Aleast its only limited to a couple of problems. Battery, alternator, and something sucking the juice out of the battery when the car is off.

 

[jlee]

update:
jump pack still didnt work, but a jumpstart from a friend's car did. I'll try driving it on a long trip(ending at a parts store) to see if it holds a charge and probably get a new battery regardless.

Thanks to all for the help and guidance. the clicking was new for me, most battery problems i've encountered have been dim lights and no starter movement(so it was clearly the battery that was the problem). I'm a little irked the jump pack didnt work tho.

If you have a multimeter, measure the battery voltage when the car is running and see if it's ~14v.

I used to have a jump pack - I returned it after it failed to jump a vehicle. I'm not impressed with them, but maybe I need to buy one of better quality.

 

[T2urtle]

^ my jump pack doesn't do crap to jump a car anymore but it does work as a temp battery when you have one that wont hold a charge. I had a car that was jumped but the second you step on the brakes it dies. Because brake lights took up power. The battery was so dead it didn't hold power. So i just linked up the jumper box as a battery. Only reason why i keep that $10 black friday item.

Once in a while it starts up random cars, but most cases i bring my jump box and jumper cables.

 

[soccerballtux]

^ this might be true but he must find the root of the problem.

If his alternator isn't charging his battery he can drive for days and shut it off for 2 hours and not start again. Aleast its only limited to a couple of problems. Battery, alternator, and something sucking the juice out of the battery when the car is off.

yes I was just pointing out it sounded like he was driving a long ways to "make sure" the battery is charged.

 

[CurseTheSky]

If you have a multimeter, measure the battery voltage when the car is running and see if it's ~14v.

I used to have a jump pack - I returned it after it failed to jump a vehicle. I'm not impressed with them, but maybe I need to buy one of better quality.

I know of a few people with this one, and they've been very impressed with it: http://www.amazon.com/Clore-Automoti.../dp/B000JFJLP6

 

[slag]

I know of a few people with this one, and they've been very impressed with it: http://www.amazon.com/Clore-Automoti.../dp/B000JFJLP6

My dad who owns a marina picked up two of the harbor freight yellow ones for under $50.00 apiece and they are still going strong 3 years later.

Slag