Car trouble

doll53, Oct 23, 5:14pm
I own a 93 auto Toyota Celica. I've had to jump start it the last couple of days. Today when I turn the key it makes a clicky machine gun noise. Does the battery need replacing or something else?
tweake, Oct 23, 5:16pm
if it starts fine when jump starting then you need a new battery.
but it would be wise to check the terminals. have seen loose or corroded battery terminals cause the same problem.
intrade, Oct 23, 5:28pm
it would be wise to check the battery and if the car is actuarly providing a charge for the battery when it runs. 93 is easy
12.56 or higher volt is a fully charged battery and 13.8 will be about the voltage the alternator should provide to the battery ove it runs.
The machine gun sound is
he contactor on the starter motor knowen as silanoid it pulls the contact closed and the voltage drops so low that the magnetic field is not strong enough to keep the contacts so the spring pushes it back off the contact. While its off the voltage returnes and it pulls the contact closed again. Resulting in a rapide clackeing noise like a machien gun.
msigg, Oct 23, 5:29pm
Yes new battery required, the clicking is the solenoid,not enough juice.
thejazzpianoma, Oct 23, 5:33pm
This, you would be insane to put a battery in it without first checking that it is charging properly. If you want to do it yourself, just grab a $10 multimeter from the warehouse or somewhere, we can walk you through it if need be.
doll53, Oct 23, 5:59pm
The car starts first pop when I jump start but it seemed like the battery wasn't staying charged.
snoopy221, Oct 23, 6:04pm
With ALL Due Respect here.
It would NOT be the first older Toyota (93).
That has an aged starter motor and will jump start okay.
Recommends auto electrician and
Battery AND starter motor testing.
yz490, Oct 23, 10:10pm
Jump start it again just to be sure to be sure. Then you realy need to get it checked incase there's a discharge flattening the battery overnight. Was it 100% ok until this happened or was it getting slower turning over & 'Just' starting. Does the battery charge up ok during your drive each day [flatten overnight]. Sounds like solenoid but maybe just battery with not enough kick to close it fully rat tat tat. Reminds me a bit of my mazda when a starter motor carbon brush post rusted & the worn brush wouldn't drop from spring pressure. Anyway--lot of woffle about not very much sorry. Wait, there's more--if battery comes up fully during your day trip then take one leed off at night & see if ok in the morning. could mean a biggish discharge if flat or might be just a small one like the clock or something else small but a buggered battery can't even cover 'that'. On my Honda i left the boot lid popped by mistake & was parked for a week & was too flat to do anything except unlock the doors. No boot light, was just the electric boot operating thingy which must be live all the time till boot fully clicked shut. Took a bit of finding till i proved it with my meter then saw daylight under the boot lid so double proved it by open & closing it while on the meter.
henderson_guy, Oct 24, 9:52am
Jeez, way to confuse the poster guys!
OP, in the simplest terms, it is highly likely that the battery is simply at the end of its life. However, to make sure, it's a good idea to go to an independent battery specialist or an auto sparkie who will perform a few tests just to make sure there's nothing else going on.
nice_lady, Oct 24, 10:26am
And so you suggest a new battery. Even though it could have a perfectly fine battery but perhaps the alternator isn't charging ? Or some other electrical issue ?
m16d, Oct 24, 10:31am
Jesus. just get a new battery.
mechnificent, Oct 24, 12:16pm
A simple test to see if the alternator is charging is to start the car and let it idle, and then switch the headlights on. The sound of motor should change note.
If it's charging then almost definitely it's time for a new battery. Disconnect a battery lead over night to check there is nothing draining the battery.
If you are not certain though, get it checked by an auto sparky. you don't want to be sticking a new battery into a car with no charging or a fault draining the battery. It will be a waste because the old battery could have been usable still, and the new battery will soon be flat too.
tgray, Oct 24, 3:29pm
I often find the battery is fine but one of the terminals are loose. Grab a 10mm socket and simply tighten, run the car so the alternator can recharge the battery and then see if that remedies it.
Most battery outlets will check your alternator free of charge.
intrade, Oct 24, 9:15pm
i actuarly had dirty therminals on a no start corolla once cleaned therminal tightened clamps with some vaseline on pole and woala it started fine again.
alfred011, Dec 13, 5:11pm
That machine gun type noise is caused by a stuffed battery not being able to hold the starter solenoid engaged if you put a voltmeter across the battery terminals when you turn key to start position voltage will usually drop from 12 volts down to 3 or 4 volts.