Help Wifes Camry Not Running Right

[bronsin]

It would not start last night so we had AAA jump it and it ran fine going home.

This morning it would not start again so I put in a new battery. Started and ran fine.

But going to work it shut off. Wife turned off the radio and AC and the car made it to work ten miles away OK.

No CEL.

What could it be?

Thanks!

[CTScott]

Sounds like the alternator is not working.

Check the large fusible links on the positive battery terminal to see if the alternator fuse popped, before looking for a new alternator.

[bronsin]

Ok thanks!

Is there any quick and dirty way to test the alternator?

[bronsin]

Wait I know one. Shine the lights on a wall at nite and rev the engine. If the lights dont get brighter its the alternator.

Right?

[bail_w]

Ok thanks!

Is there any quick and dirty way to test the alternator?

Using a multi-meter is the fastest and most accurate method.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dq24oPUVmdA

[bronsin]

Well well well wait til you hear THIS!

My wifes brother is a BMW mechanic. He looked at the car at my wifes work and drove it all around.

No problem!

He checked the alternator with a VOM.

Normal.

He thinks what happened is the computer took time to re set/reboot. Even though the new battery was good and the alternator worked properly, the computer remembered the sub par voltage and shut the car down. It took a while for the computer to recognize the new battery.

Hows that grab you! :iono:

[CTScott]

Well well well wait til you hear THIS!

My wifes brother is a BMW mechanic. He looked at the car at my wifes work and drove it all around.

No problem!

He checked the alternator with a VOM.

Normal.

He thinks what happened is the computer took time to re set/reboot. Even though the new battery was good and the alternator worked properly, the computer remembered the sub par voltage and shut the car down. It took a while for the computer to recognize the new battery.

Hows that grab you! :iono:


Not likely. Better keep the AAA number handy.

[bronsin]

Maybe.

This is the third battery. The first one we replaced this didn't happen.

Stay tuned.

[bronsin]

Do alternators go bad intermittently?

[bronsin]

Did the headlite test Yaris and Camry nose to nose on a dark night street.

Neither car revving the engine did the headlites get brighter.

Both cars engine at idle 14.5 volts.

Turn on the AC both cars voltage drops to 14.

Camry runs good no engine shutdown.

[CTScott]

Do alternators go bad intermittently?

Not usually. Typically they stop working completely or get very weak. If the voltage regulator within the alternator fails, you may see high voltages (18+ volts).

[bronsin]

I think we're good!

[90tsi]

Dont wanna sound like a prick... but sounds like you got a loose terminal. Ive seen that alot lately at the shop. Not the that there floppy loose but under engine vibration and such they wiggle around amd u dont get a good connection. I had that issue with my yukon when I put a battery in it I didnt get the positive to sit just so. Took me a while to find it too lol. Just a thought.

[CTScott]

Dont wanna sound like a prick... but sounds like you got a loose terminal. Ive seen that alot lately at the shop. Not the that there floppy loose but under engine vibration and such they wiggle around amd u dont get a good connection. I had that issue with my yukon when I put a battery in it I didnt get the positive to sit just so. Took me a while to find it too lol. Just a thought.

That was my initial thought, but since he replaced the battery I would think he would have noticed the loose terminal.

[bronsin]

Dont wanna sound like a prick... but sounds like you got a loose terminal. Ive seen that alot lately at the shop. Not the that there floppy loose but under engine vibration and such they wiggle around amd u dont get a good connection. I had that issue with my yukon when I put a battery in it I didnt get the positive to sit just so. Took me a while to find it too lol. Just a thought.

No problem sometimes that could do it. It might help someone else someday.