Solara starting weak...

[SPICA1750]

My 2000 solara starts weak sometimes..does anyone elses do that. like it starts fine but others it sounds weak and trying to start.

[crispone]

My 2000 solara starts weak sometimes..does anyone elses do that. like it starts fine but others it sounds weak and trying to start.

My '04 has also begun to do this! A full charge on the battery does not seem to make much difference. I am wondering if it's the starter or battery is just becoming "spent"? I have worked it very hard and for MANY miles and hours of high-current draw through multiple amps...


Jury is still out in my case...


-crisp

[SPICA1750]

My friend told me it could be the starter...my battery is pretty new i think.. its weird cause i dont leave anything on for the battery to go weak..
hmm!

[mac-phisto]

check your battery terminals for corrosion. PB blaster & a wire brush works wonders on them. the wires themselves sometimes become brittle & break as well. if you have a little play, you can strip them back & re-terminate them. otherwise, you might have to replace the cables.

[SPICA1750]

check your battery terminals for corrosion. PB blaster & a wire brush works wonders on them. the wires themselves sometimes become brittle & break as well. if you have a little play, you can strip them back & re-terminate them. otherwise, you might have to replace the cables.

nah..my dad and i just did service and cleaned them like a month ago

[kingkakyle]

maybe the battery is just weak
even if its new, something could be draining it
mine does that, i have a stock battery, my HIDs drain it alot, as well as my navi system and all the peripherals i installed

[crispone]

maybe the battery is just weak
even if its new, something could be draining it
mine does that, i have a stock battery, my HIDs drain it alot, as well as my navi system and all the peripherals i installed

Peripherals, yes. HIDs, should not drain a lot. They draw LESS current that conventional Halogen bulbs, with only the "spike" for an instant when the ballast "kicks" 'em on. (I'm pretty sure...) They also run COOLER than conventional bulb technology, I've read... but correct me if I'm mistaken.


I think "weak battery" is likely my situation. 6 years on original battery with the heavy current amp draw on mine and I'm pretty sure I'm ready for a new one. We'll see if that take care of the issue for me!



-crisp

[MisterTedster]

It could be that your alternator is not charging as much as it should. I had to replace mine because my amps were drawing too much power and eventually burned out the alternator.

[crispone]

It could be that your alternator is not charging as much as it should. I had to replace mine because my amps were drawing too much power and eventually burned out the alternator.

That's my #2 suspicion. Either way, my battery is definitely "aging" and I may place a fresh one and see if the symptoms return. Then it's likely the alternator. Sometime, I'll pop in a local car place and check it with a load to be sure...


-crisp

[SPICA1750]

thanks guys for your help

[crispone]

Just a quick (and late) follow-up on this...

As suspected, changed my battery and now the car "pops" almost instantly, and has continued to show NO signs of any starting difficulty since. I guess 100k+ miles and 6+ years of use has finally done the "stockie" in.



-crisp

[02slera]

advance auto or autozone will check most cars battery and charging system for free, just go in and ask. the battery has to test "good" for the alternator to be tested. -just general info for anyone.

[SPICA1750]

yeah i think i might have it checked out tomorrow..

[kenny6683]

this happened to me this past weekend too. i think my HID lights plus W7 juiced all the power that old ass battery had left to it. bought a new one and back to normal but i will use a volt meter today to check alternator...it could also be shot. a new battery will make car run again but u should still check alternator especially now before winter comes

[TheGreenDutch]

advance auto or autozone will check most cars battery and charging system for free, just go in and ask. the battery has to test "good" for the alternator to be tested. -just general info for anyone.

AutoZone is the best. Do this for free code check as well.