Power failure

Nov 04, 2007 2 Replies

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s_oldnall 18 years ago

Have a Camry 2000. Two problems not sure if they are conected. When i turned the headlights onto full beam the whole car just died. Dash lights went out, engine faltered and radio asked for security code. Tried it again by putting high beam on and it happened two out of five attempts. Second problem. Electric windows stop working. No noise clicking or grinding. Worked out the only way to get them to work is to stop the car and lock/unlock it. Then they work fine until the next time.

Thanks for any advice

stu

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Daniel 18 years ago

== Go to the battery, firmly grasp the cable connections one at a time and see if you can twist, wiggle or move them. If they move at all they're too loose and could be causing an intermittent fault. If there is corrosion, clean first, then tighten if needed. This is the first place to check.

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johngdole 18 years ago

Besides taking your battery to a parts store for a free test, also check your alternator. Its output may be low. Is the belt properly tensioned? Autozone may be able to test the alternator as well as your local NAPA store.

These two usually hurt each other. A weak battery strains the alternator and damages it; a non-charging alternator drains a lead- acid battery that doesn't like deep discharges, etc.

That's why I change my batteries every 5 years. *No questions asked*. Now at $45 Walmart's Johnson Control is 4x cheaper than an alternator.

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