A friend in need

[MrmnGrl]

I have a friend who has an 88 Toyota Camry that has a dead car- she said that she took the battery in and got it tested and its fine, but they said that it might be the alt. Any ideas? Anyone willing to help my friend fix it? Any good places to by an alt? Price?? Let me know!

[Kolat]

if the car does'nt have power at all then it sounds like a bad connection at the battery. If it was the alt then it'd gradually lose power. Unless they tested the battery and called it good without any voltage in it heh.

T

[MrmnGrl]

She says that it will start sometimes, but other times it wont. She says that it doesnt die when she drives, so youre probably right kolat. What would you suggest?

[BlackMagic]

sounds like a starter to me

[MrmnGrl]

Ok, heres what she told me- she will start her car, drive and do her stuff, come back, let the car sit for like 45 mins and then go back to the car and it wont start.

[98spydert]

Mine did that this week too. The starter draws power straight from the battery, the connection felt solid but wasn't. Took it off, cleaned it up, tightened it down. No more problem. Just an idea.

[MrmnGrl]

ok, so how does she have that taken care of? Anyone want to do it for her? Or highly recommend to take into shop? Cost?

[BlackMagic]

I would help out, but I wont be back into spokane until Sept. 8th

[Kolat]

sounds like she just needs to clean the connections on the battery and make sure they're tight.

T

[GetawayInMoscow]

Ok, heres what she told me- she will start her car, drive and do her stuff, come back, let the car sit for like 45 mins and then go back to the car and it wont start.


Okay now I think Reid is definitely right, sounds like the starter for sure. If she knows what the starter is she can hit it a few times with a hammer (dead serious) when it's not starting and try that...

[MrmnGrl]

lol, what does a starter look like? I'll take a hammer with me when i go to work so that she can try it out...wow, nothing like a good ol' Fred Flinstone try, aye? :P

[amandac]

Hey, you'd be amazed the awesome-ness of banging things to make them work correctly. You may have her clean the terminal posts and tighten em just to be sure.

[BlackMagic]

lol, what does a starter look like? I'll take a hammer with me when i go to work so that she can try it out...wow, nothing like a good ol' Fred Flinstone try, aye? :P


Try this before you start banging on anything.

1) Disconnect the battery cables (-negative first) and clean them thoroughly (any parts store should have a terminal cleaning tool in stock).??DO NOT RECONNECT YET

2) Follow the positive battery cable toward the engine.??It should be connected to the starter by a small nut on a threaded piece of the starter. FYI, the starter is a round piece of metal (about pop can size) that attaches to the engine from the transmission side.??If necessary, remove this nut and clean the starter connection.??Check to be sure the connection is tight and secure.

3) Reconnect the battery cables and tighten, negative cable last.

It sounds as though this solution may work.??If not, let me know and I will give you a couple other options.

-Reid

[MrmnGrl]

I would try it, but unfortunately she did not show up at work today. I will have to talk to her tomorrow about it...Thanks!