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1997 Toyota Camry LE; problem with starter motor, battery, or something else?
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sourdoughgirl
New User
May 2, 2011, 1:30 PM
Post #1 of 5
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1997 Toyota Camry LE; problem with starter motor, battery, or something else?
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Hi all, I am a stay at home mom who doesn’t know much about automotive so please bear with me.
We have a 1997 Toyota Camry that had been into a minor accident when it was fairly new. As a result, it required some body work but nothing major. The car was pretty reliable until 5 years ago when the alarm system began to act funny. The alarm light in the car would change randomly (when parked) from blinking to constant red, and to complete dark. I didn’t pay much attention to that because as long as the car ran I didn’t care about the light. Other than the a few odd issues i.e. short fuse and gas cap, the car seemed to work just fine. Then one day the light changed from blinking red to constant red, and suddenly I couldn’t touch my car without setting off the alarm. We took it to the closest garage where they shut off the alarm for us. We wanted the mechanic to completely disconnect the alarm system but he said he couldn’t and that he didn’t know enough about the particular alarm system to determined the cause to the problem. Somehow the alarm light went back to blinking red and it was good for a while, until the battery died two years ago.
When we replaced the old battery with a new one, somehow we must have reset the alarm system and the alarm light returned to constant red when parked. Then I began to notice the battery required charging more often than it used to. I had to move the car at least once a week in order to keep the battery from being drained completely. Since I don’t go to work I only need to run errands once or twice a week, the car sits in the garage a lot.
Just last Friday, after sitting in the garage for only four days, the car wouldn't move when I tried to start it. I first thought it was the battery again. But this time , instead of complete silence, all the lights on the dashboard came on and I heard some very loud and rapid clicking sounds coming from under the hood.
When my husband came home we did some research online and thought it could be the starter motor. So we pushed the car a few inches off the spot and managed to start the engine and drove it to the closest garage. Left it there overnight and the mechanic called me this morning telling me it was the battery. I asked him about the starter motor and he said they had checked everything but the conclusion was a bad battery.
This mechanic has been fixing our cars for 10 years and this is the first time ever that I don’t feel 100% comfortable with his opinions. I asked him a few more times about the possibility of other issues that might drain the battery but he confirmed nothing else was wrong with the car. It should be good news to us because all we need now is a new battery. Strange enough, I can’t help but having this queasy feeling in my stomach, wondering how long the next battery will last.
What do you think? Is it just the battery? Or it’s the starter motor? Or something more serious that we should get a second opinion?
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 2, 2011, 2:17 PM
Post #2 of 5
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Re: 1997 Toyota Camry LE; problem with starter motor, battery, or something else?
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If the battery is testing bad, then it needs to be replaced before you can even consider a bad starter. Be thankful that he is honest and didn't sell you both.
Just ask him if he confirmed that there wasn't any parasitic draw on the battery.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
(This post was edited by Hammer Time on May 2, 2011, 2:18 PM)
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sourdoughgirl
New User
May 2, 2011, 2:34 PM
Post #3 of 5
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Re: 1997 Toyota Camry LE; problem with starter motor, battery, or something else?
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Thank you for your reply. I do agree that we really don't have any choice but to replace the battery. Yes, the mechanic is very honest and we are indeed grateful to have him looking after our cars. I did ask him if there was anything else that could drain the battery but his opinion was just the battery. I don't know how else I can ask the same question without offending him. I don't know if this is normal... the original battery seemed to last forever, the second battery last for 5 years, then the previous one two years... who knows how long this one will last.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 2, 2011, 2:50 PM
Post #4 of 5
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Re: 1997 Toyota Camry LE; problem with starter motor, battery, or something else?
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He would have to have actually tested the draw to know for sure. I hope he's not just assuming it is OK. You could ask him if he actually tested for parasitic draw.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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sourdoughgirl
New User
May 2, 2011, 3:27 PM
Post #5 of 5
(4724 views)
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Re: 1997 Toyota Camry LE; problem with starter motor, battery, or something else?
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Missed your post. We've just come back from the garage with the car so didn't ask the mechanic specifically about parasitic draw. I guess we just have to put a new battery in to see what will happen. The mechanic is a good guy so I am sure he will help us if we the car gives us any further grief. Thanks again!
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