just got back from a 3 week trip. my dad warmed up the car from now and then, but the fisrt time i tried to start it it wouldnt. we had to jump start it, and now eberytime i try to start the engine, it sounds as if its stuggling to start and that the battery power is weak.

thanks for the help

 

I have heard that they normally last about 3 yrs.

 

really...mine is only a year old. could it be something else causing the problem???

 

bad alternator?

 

for toyotas and scions, it takes a bit longer to start than other cars like hondas and acuras. thats what i noticed. might jus be all in ur head lol

 

It could be a lot of things - given it's a new car, I wouldn't go as far as a timing chain, but maybe battery/alternator/cable.
They can test those easily - take it in.
I get a new battery every two/three-years due to the awful heat here - rather spend $75 than have to get towed or miss a day of work.

Scott

 

I tried giving my friend a jump start yesterday. I couldn't even get the red thing off of the cover over the positive side........How do ya even do that?

 

You're in Hawaii, right?

Are the terminals corroded on the battery? If so, clean 'em up with some baking soda and water solution and it should start right up. You may want to smear them with some dialectric grease to prevent this from happening in the future as well.

 

The stock battery is probably spec'd to last 3 years. A year is too quick to go, for the battery itself and for its support components (alternator, cables, etc.).

Was the car parked in the sun while you were gone? You're not exactly in a dry area, but it is hot in the sun . Have you checked your battery cell water level? Don't believe that "Maintenance Free Battery" crap - car batteries have never been maintenance-free. The H2SO4 expands when it heats up, and steam boils or leeches out. This is why, after some design (or, more likely, marketing) idiots subjected drivers to permanently sealed batteries (a dangerously bad idea), we again see batteries with filler strips and/or caps.

I'll bet more than a few cells are low. Distilled water is best for topping them off (only to the point where the water puckers in the cell), but I typically used tap water when I did my own work. This is very easy, but heed some caveats about working with battery acid: Wear rubber gloves, remove things gingerly (flat-head screwdriver is perfect) to avoid splashing or spilling on your clothes, skin or eyes (wear clear goggles or glasses), and wash everything with clean water when you're done.

All this said, if 1) your cells do have enough water, and 2) you're really near the beach, I'd look at the battery cables, as oxidation can be a creeping ogre. If the cables look pretty clean, it's possible that your starter may need attention - though starters typically last 40-90k miles before needing stuff.

My vote is for the battery water.

Hope this helps - Bs are perfect for the islands!

 

That's a good point about the terminals, too. In addition, traces of corrosion (at first clear - from the leaching - then white, can get brown) can grow on top of the battery, mildly "bridging" the terminals. This robs the battery of cranking power. The soda/water solution fixes this.

 

I'd check the cables and also put the battery on a trickle charger. While working on my air ride I managed to run my battery completely dead twice. For whatever reason the battery always acted weak until I hooked it to a battery charger over night. It just seemed like tha alternater wouldn't bring it back to as strong as it was before.

BTW. Also if your really worried about it. Take it to autozone. They can put it on the machine and it will tell you what parts are not putting out like they should. It could help you get it focused down to the cause of the problem. Plus its free.

 

10-4 on trickle charging. If you don't want to take it in, driving it (up the coast or simply in traffic) for an hour or so should restore the normal charge level.

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