Why did my car not start and does it sounds like a battery issue?

SHAYSHAY2238

MEMBER
2002 TOYOTA CAMRY

My car started fine this am. I went to work and when I came out my interior lights on the dash were flickering and would either stay on or shut off. When I put my key in the ignition it wouldn't turn over, it didn't even try. There was an odd clicking with my dash light flickering in sync with the (not when I was trying the key but just when my lights were attempting to come on. I tried to jump the car with someone elses and no luck, it seemed to want to turn over more but still was unable to. Any idea as to what it is?

3 Replies

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
109,885 POSTS

Start at the battery. Check to make sure battery terminals are clean and tight. Make sure the ground from the battery to the engine block is tight and clean. Check connections in power distribution box under the hood.

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Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011 AT 8:31 PM

SHAYSHAY2238

MEMBER
1 POST

I checked the terminals, theyre all tight and clean for the most part. They were slightly corroded and I cleaned it off as well as I could. Does this sound like a battery issue though rather than an alternator or starter problem?

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Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011 AT 8:37 PM

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
109,885 POSTS

I have to be honest, it sounds like a loose connection. The alternator isn't doing anything with the engine off, so we can't check that. It may have allowed the battery to go dead. That is why I started there. What I need you to do is this. First, take a volt meter and check how many volts the battery is producing with the key off. It should be around 12.2 or a little more. Then, have a helper turn the key to the start position while checking to see if there is a change in voltage.

Let me know what you find. NOTE: You can use any type of volt meter to do this as long as it reads DC voltage. Don't worry, you won't get shocked. However, if you touch both sides of the battery with anything that conducts electric, it will short and spark. Just be careful if you have a screw driver near the battery so it doesn't touch both sides.

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Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011 AT 11:39 PM