Car will not start after cleaning corrosion off... Report abuse posted by billa2k1 on Apr 19, 2009
i first notice some bad corrosion on my positive terminals and decides to clean them. After cleaning them and reinstalling the old battery, the car wouldnt start and no sign of power. The next day I went and bought a new battery and there was sign of power but the car didn't start. Went to autozone to get the old and new one check and both test good and they gave me back my old one. Put the old one back in and again no start, got the car jump and it start. HOORAY, no not really, decide to drive around the block, as soon as I turn the corner the car shut off. Then attempted to put the car in neutral to move it somewhere out of traffic, the shifter was stuck and could not move it into neutral. Then I jump started it again and again it start, let it run for about 20 mins( drove it around the block) and cut if off, then retried to restart, again No LUCk. Is it a battery problem only or could it be worst? Comment posted on Apr 19, 2009
Ok, so I called a Tow Truck to tow it to the nearest Sears Auto Center to get a new battery, he check out the battery and notice the eye was still green meaning that the battery is still good and he jump started my car and told me to let it run for about 45 mins and take it for a drive after wards. Well just under 45 mins the car shut off again and I cant get it to start back up.
Could the possibly be the alternator? I do hope not. The car is a 2004 Camry
When you are diving the car and it shuts off then you try to start it again i assume the car turns over or CRANKS like it is trying to start it just doesnt start and stay running correct?When you are diving the car and it shuts off then you try to start it again i assume the car turns over or CRANKS like it is trying to start it just doesnt start and stay running correct?
Just try to keep the gas and drive for at leat 15 min HWY if possible. Yes, it will turn off if you let go the gas, but it will restart and stay on as long as you press on gas. Just keep on driving and the computer will readjust the emission inputs and will get back to normal.
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Take the car, or the battery, to a car parts store and have it tested. Usually the problem is a bad battery, unless it is a problem of corrosion on the terminals.
Understand that corrosion can not only prevent starting, it can prevent the battery from taking a charge to recharge it from the starting draw.
The terminals must be not only clean, but "metal-shiny-bright :" on the posts and the terminals themselves.
God bless your efforts.
First clean the battery posts, to much corrosion cause cause a no jump start condition. Sometimes a cell or two in the battery is dead. This is why you can't jump start the car. Replace the battery.
Start with the battery. Turn on the headlights, and have someone look at them whilst you try to start the car. If the lights stay really bright, you likely have starter or starter solenoid problem. If the lights dim as you try to start, you may have a bad connection or a bad battery. In any regard, take the battery terminals off the posts and give them a good scrubbing with a wire brush and something to clean inside the terminal holes that go over the posts. Be sure to check the wires that go out of the terminals for corrosion or looseness. Loose terminals can cause the battery to go dead whilst you drive the car. Make sure all connections are tight and clean. Remember, the alternator is not a battery charger, so if it will start with a jump, have the battery charged and then test it. More problems! ? Ask "fixya" after doing these steps. Be blessed.
first check make sure battery has 12.6 volts and battery cables and post clean free from corrosion and battery cables has tight connection.have vechicle jump start or use booster battery if engine trying to turn over battery COLD CRANKING AMPS TOO WEAK battery could be too old if over 4 or 5 years olds.
Never rinse the battery terminals or squirt water in the engine area of your car. If you get certain parts in the engine wet, the car cannot run. You might have wet something electrical that may work correctly again once it dries out completely.
Get a wire brush and pliers or a screw driver (depending on the type of battery terminal connections you have on your car) to remove all of the debris/corrosion on the posts correctly. Use the pliers or the screw driver to loosen the posts so you can remove them (one at a time). Life the post off of the battery & use the wire brush to remove everything on the post itself on top of the battery to the connector that is attached to the battery cable. Brush until you see a nice, clean metal connection free of rusty dust or corrosion. Reattach the battery cable and repeat the process on the other terminal. Once the terminals & connections are clean, you will need to jump start your battery in order to get the car to start again. Find a pair of battery cables & have a friend bring their car and park it as close to your engine as possible. Have them leave their car running. Open their hood and put the jumper cables on each terminal on their battery. Make sure you put the right color cable on the right terminal. then connect the other side of the jumper cables to the battery in your car. Have your friend press their gas pedal a couple of times to rev their engine, then try to start your car. continue until your car starts. then wait a few minutes to make sure your car battery gets enough of a charge to stay running. Leave your car running and disconnect the jumper cables. Driver your car around for a fifteen to twenty minutes to recharge the batter fully. If not, when you turn it off it will be dead again and it wont start. If the car starts and the battery stays charged then your problem is solved. If you cannot get the car to turn over or hold a charge you might need to replace your alternator.
A big issue with older cars is battery cable corrosion. Start by checking the battery terminals for white or green fuzzy stuff. That is corrosion. You'll need to remove the cables and clean the ends with a wire brush. You'll also want to look at the copper inside the cable. If it has turned green and has corrosion in it, you'll want to replace the cable. I fixed my sisters Escort with this same issue by following the positive cable to it's first splice and I found corrosion there. I cleaned it all out and the car has been fine since.
ALWAYS start with the simplest thing first, otherwise you will get "taken" at the Parts Stores.
Clean your battery terminals! This is the MAIN cause of not starting. Clean the clamps. Use the tool they sell, or sandpaper.Inspect the ciring for corrosion. Then make sure to re-connect the clamps tighly enough so there is a good connection. (you will not be able to move the cables).
If the vehicle doesn't start, have the battery tested. Make sure you have the correct battery for your vehicle. Different batteries have different sized terminals and different cranking power.
First, try to get a jump to get the car running. If getting a jump won't start the car there is something else wrong. If the car starts, it could be that your battery is too weak to start the car but has enough power to run the lights, etc. It takes a lot of battery power to turn the starter over.
At first blush, sounds like corrosion on the battery cables either at the battery or at the other end at the alternator or starter. There are several sprays at the auto parts store that will clear the corrosion but the best way is to remove the cables and clean both the cable ends and the posts. Once you're able to rule out the cables/connections having the charging system checked would be next point of order but its more likely to be the cables. A car that won't run on it's own isn't getting enough power from the alternator so I'd check the negative cable first.
it could be the alternator. Still could be battery too... Get the vehicle running and disconect the posative cable from the battery. This takes the battery out of the system and allows the vehicle to run just from the alternator. The battery is really only used to protect from surges as idle increases and to start the engine. So if you disconect it and it stays running then chances are your battery is developing a bad cell in it and will need to be replaced.
that is correct
ok great, i will go get a new battery and let you know what happens, thanks again everyone for all you help
In a Toyota a defective battery will cause this.
When you are diving the car and it shuts off then you try to start it again i assume the car turns over or CRANKS like it is trying to start it just doesnt start and stay running correct?
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