Car turns off

Tiny
FABIAN CHARLTON
  • MEMBER
  • 2009 TOYOTA CAMRY
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 80,000 MILES
Without the battery, the alternator gives about 13.5 volts. To determine that we disconnected the battery and used a multimeter.

When I turn on the high beams in the car without the battery connected, the car turns off. If I have it connected without load, the voltage is about 13.8 with load and with battery it's 13.4.


So, this is the scenario: I turn on the car using a jumper then disconnect the jumper.

If I wait a minute or however long, if I turn on the high beams, the car shuts off.


Now I was arguing with my dad trying to explain to him that I know that turning on the hi beams will shut it off because I start to see the lights dim on the dashboard when I flick to turn it on.(And when I actually do turn it on, the car shuts off) So in rapid succession I flick the high beams and I un flick it fast enough so that the beams do not fully turn on. But each time I'm seeing the dashboard lights begin to shut down like the car is losing power. To show him that if I let it fully power on, the high beams will shut off the car

My dad kept insisting that the high beams shouldn't turn off the car, so while I'm flicking like four times in a row, (each time the dashboard lights are dimming in response to me flicking the high beams slightly) I gave in, and on the five try I let it fully engage the flick and the high beams came on and the car stayed on. I was so confused.

So, I turned off the beams then proceeded to turn it on, and the car shut off.



And I reproduced it.


So, my question is, why does flicking the hi beams ultimately lead to the car not turning off?
Wednesday, June 15th, 2022 AT 6:04 PM

49 Replies

Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
Sounds like the module is trying to load shed to prevent the shutting off but if the high beams are on, it is too much for it.

Have you checked the battery and alternator?

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-battery-load-test

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-a-car-alternator

Starting the engine and disconnecting the battery is not going to give us the info we need.

This system is not designed to run off one or the other. It is meant to run in tandem so we need to test each part first and then we can figure out the cutting off with the high beams if it is still there.

However, the high beams are not going to have any effect on the engine other than the additional load, so I suspect we have an issue in this system we just need to start at the beginning.

Thanks
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Thursday, June 16th, 2022 AT 10:17 AM
Tiny
FABIAN CHARLTON
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So, here's what happened: I bought an alternator from eBay because it was cheap and from my preliminary testing the ac ripple on the old one seemed to be messing up. Soi got one used. The thing was I took it to advanced auto to have them test it and it came back fail. What I plan on doing is taking the alternator from the old car and test that one. Right now, I may have to return the one I got from eBay.

I also had purchased A new battery prior to this conversation.

But I will test the one in the car and report back. In the meantime, here's the used one.
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Monday, June 20th, 2022 AT 7:37 PM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
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Okay. Yes. I think you are on it. No matter what we do, we need to start with a battery that passes a load test and an alternator that will pass that bench test.

Until we have that, we are just chasing our tail. Let me know how it turns out. Thanks
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Tuesday, June 21st, 2022 AT 9:02 AM
Tiny
FABIAN CHARLTON
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I'm trying to get this belt off so I can take off my alternator. But I cannot locate what bolt that everyone is always pointing to.
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Saturday, June 25th, 2022 AT 6:46 PM
Tiny
FABIAN CHARLTON
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.
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Saturday, June 25th, 2022 AT 6:47 PM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
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You need to use a 19mm socket wrench to put on this bolt and then you pull it towards you. This will remove the tension from the belt, and you can slip it off the alternator pulley.

Here is a guide that helps with this:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/replace-serpentine-belt

Below is the info from the manual. It shows that there is a leverage point, but I am not seeing that in the video so that means it is the actual bolt that you use. However, if you get a slightly better video or picture of this area, I will point it out if it is not this bolt.
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+1
Saturday, June 25th, 2022 AT 7:01 PM
Tiny
FABIAN CHARLTON
  • MEMBER
  • 53 POSTS
I think that bolt is missing.
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Sunday, June 26th, 2022 AT 2:56 PM
Tiny
FABIAN CHARLTON
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  • 53 POSTS
I ended up following this guy https://youtu.be/CcCl8G-zTvo
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Sunday, June 26th, 2022 AT 3:29 PM
Tiny
FABIAN CHARLTON
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Oh, now I understand what you meant. I didn't realize you pointed to that thing, caused that's exactly what I used to release the tension. So, is it that the leverage point broke? Or maybe it's not the model to use it?
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Sunday, June 26th, 2022 AT 8:22 PM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
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I think what happens is they reused an illustration from an earlier model year which does have this point, but your vehicle just uses the bolt on the pulley.

Most all vehicles just use that bolt so if that worked, then that is what I would use moving forward.
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-1
Monday, June 27th, 2022 AT 7:16 PM
Tiny
FABIAN CHARLTON
  • MEMBER
  • 53 POSTS
I still haven't found an Advanced Auto that would test my alternator, but the one that arrived looked damaged.
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Monday, July 4th, 2022 AT 6:13 PM
Tiny
FABIAN CHARLTON
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Not sure if it will affect it or should I just get my money back?
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Monday, July 4th, 2022 AT 6:13 PM
Tiny
FABIAN CHARLTON
  • MEMBER
  • 53 POSTS
This was the result of the new alternator.
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Tuesday, July 5th, 2022 AT 4:14 PM
Tiny
FABIAN CHARLTON
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This is the result of the old one in the car.
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Tuesday, July 5th, 2022 AT 4:15 PM
Tiny
FABIAN CHARLTON
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Here's a video with the newer alternator. The problem is still there sort of. The personal alternator seems to be able to put just a right amount of power before the engine cuts off where the old alternator if I feel like the high beams, it will automatically shut off the car this one you flick the high beams, and the car does die out for like half of a second or something half of a half of a second, but it recovers
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Wednesday, July 6th, 2022 AT 9:12 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
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Hi,

I noticed you haven't been contacted in a couple of days. Have you been able to make any progress? We're interested in knowing.

Also, if you are still having issues, I want you to try something. I need you to check the alternator output on the vehicle. All you need is a voltmeter or multimeter. When you test it, I need you to have a helper flick the high beam on and off while you watch the meter. Let us know the voltage readings when doing this. I'm starting to think you may have a faulty ground.

Here is the link:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-a-car-alternator

Let us know.

Joe
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Friday, July 8th, 2022 AT 10:42 PM
Tiny
FABIAN CHARLTON
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No, I haven't made any other progress. Other than the latest post I previously made.
Here are the results:

With the battery connected:

These are the volts:
14.1 with nothing on but the car.

With hb on, 13.9.

With the battery not connected (started using a booster.

13.82-13.70 (not steady it's keeps on changing) when I rev it it'll go jump to 14 but settle lower and change value between stated above.

When I flick the hb, the volts drop to 8.6 but quickly shoot back to 13.82.

The ground is good. Value is.02
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Sunday, July 10th, 2022 AT 5:52 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
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The alternator seems to be doing its job. Since you are getting that much of a draw when the high beam is turned on, I have a feeling the problem could be coming from the body control module.

I attached diagnostics specific to the high beams circuit. It requires a scan tool that can communicate with the modules. I'm not sure if you have one. Take a look through them and let me know if you are comfortable performing them.

Take care,

Joe

See pics below.
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Sunday, July 10th, 2022 AT 8:22 PM
Tiny
FABIAN CHARLTON
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  • 53 POSTS
When you say communicate do you mean bi-directional?
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Monday, July 11th, 2022 AT 8:29 PM
Tiny
FABIAN CHARLTON
  • MEMBER
  • 53 POSTS
Here is what I was going to post before you replied. I do have this tool but in fact I just purchased a Blue Driver. And yes, I am willing to do whatever it is, lol.
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Monday, July 11th, 2022 AT 8:33 PM

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