Dead battery?

I would go ahead an replace the battery, since even if it turned out to be the alternator, a 2002 battery probably does not have much life left. However, you might want to check the water level in the battery and carefully fill to cover the metal plates with distilled water if necessary (be very careful to not over-fill because that will let acid out of the battery)..

Batteries these days tend to go bad all of a sudden instead of gradually, especially if the are physically damaged inside (which happens more frequently than most realize). The damage can occur as a result of extreme heat and/or physical shock.

If you live in a moderate or warm climate, be sure to get a "South" battery, which are built with sturdier internal construction, but have slightly less cranking power than "North" batteries.

When you say it "did not hold the charge longer than 5 minutes while idling", do you mean the engine stall 5 minutes after jump start, OR you run it for 5 minutes, turn off the ignition and then fail to restart the engine? If it is the first case, more than likely the charging system cannot provide enough electricity to run the car, the battery may not be bad. If it is the latter case, you need more than 5 minutes to recharge a dead battery.

If you have a charger, recharge the battery before trying again. A charger is a good investment especially for the winter time. If the battery is old or you usually run short trips, recharging the battery once in a while will prevent some problems.

I would also do a quick check of the battery with a voltmeter/multi-meter. With the ignition key off, check the battery voltage. It should be around 13 volts. Once you jump start the engine, the voltage should be around 14 to 15 volts. If you don't get that jump in voltage after starting the engine, there is something wrong with the charging system.

The original battery in my 99 Camry is still going strong...in a northern COLD climate, I might add.

Batteries typically last longer in cold climates. It is the heat that kills them. The "South" batteries are built with a more robust internal structure at the expense of room for metal plates and fluid (so South batteries have slightly less cranking power than ordinary or North batteries).

I replaced the original battery in my 98 about a year ago, simply as a precaution, even though it seemed to be fine. Being stranded with a dead battery can sometimes be many times more costly than the $75 cost of a new one.

Thanks everyone for the tips. I ended up taking it in because the car kept stalling out. The shop ran tests & deterined the battery was the cuplrit. Hopefully they were right.

Thanks.

Mark A wrote:

I had a car years ago that had this problem. I suffered with it all one winter until a sharp garage guy figured out the alternator belt was too loose and the battery was not getting recharged.

If the charging system is working, then you car shouldn't stall after being started. The alternator will not provide much power at idle speeds, but if you are not using AC or much other power, then your car should keep running without stalling. Otherwise it points to a weak charging system or even something as simple as a loose belt.

camry owner wrote:

Since the OP has subsequently posted that a service technician has evaluated the situation and determined that battery is a fault, it does not seem wise for someone who has not even seen the car to contradict that.