07 Starting Issues

[alfabob]

Hello, wondering if anyone is having similar starting issues. 2007 yaris sedan with under 40k, just installed new battery a few weeks ago. When starting the car, there are a quick series of clicks until the engine begins to slowly crank. After about 3 - 5 cranks it starts up and idles around 1500rpm until driven around for ~15 mins, then drops to the usual 500-700. What is confusing me is that if the alternator was bad, the battery should have been dead by now (have driven it around at least 10 times with head lights and accessories on). Initially thought it was due to cold weather, but the issue persists even when temps are in the 40-50's. Any ideas?

[alfabob]

Some additional information, voltage of battery after car is off for a couple of days is 12.2V; right after car is turned on, battery gives 14.51V which seems to say the alternator is ok? After driving around this drops to about 14.25V (around the point when idle begins to drop below 1k rpm).

After car is turned off the battery gives 12.89V and drops to 12.64V after about 15 mins. Measured it again after 50 minutes and the voltage further dropped to 12.37V; I'm guessing this will continue until it reaches 12.2V (about a 60% charge?).. Would this indicate an electrical issue (short in circuit), bad (new) battery or the starter motor?

[Happy Little Pony]

When the battery was installed, did the cables get tightened up snugly? While the battery was disconnected, did the ends of the battery cables get cleaned of corrosion? Did the terminals on the new battery? A possible cause for you problem could be a simple "bad connection." I've seen cars that acted just like this that were restored to normal by cleaning the terminals with a wire brush.

It probably isn't the problem, but it's a possibility that's cheap and easy to check.

[Geoff Peace]

Hello, wondering if anyone is having similar starting issues. 2007 yaris sedan with under 40k, just installed new battery a few weeks ago. When starting the car, there are a quick series of clicks until the engine begins to slowly crank. After about 3 - 5 cranks it starts up and idles around 1500rpm until driven around for ~15 mins, then drops to the usual 500-700. What is confusing me is that if the alternator was bad, the battery should have been dead by now (have driven it around at least 10 times with head lights and accessories on). Initially thought it was due to cold weather, but the issue persists even when temps are in the 40-50's. Any ideas?

Clean the earth connections to the body of the car as well as the battery. They should be bright and clean, then grease them and remake the connections. There are several in the engine bay.

Regards Geoff Peace.

[ruabadfish2]

A clicking noise sounds like the starter. My wifes previous sentra had a similar experience before we replaced it. Sometimes it would click, click, start, other times click, click, no noise. After replacing it, and the nissan sentra starter is in the worst bloody possible places, no worries until it was totaled.

This is why I love the Yaris. The starter is right in the front with plenty of room to get at it! If you have someone to help listen, pop the hood and start the car to hear where the clicking is coming from. If all other electrical's are good, could be this is where the slow engine turn over is coming from.