2007 Toyota Matrix Ignition completely dead

BARBIEKD

MEMBER
2007 TOYOTA MATRIX
1.8L
4 CYL
FWD
MANUAL
167,000 MILES

Car has always started as soon as the key is turned but when I went to use it today it is dead. Turned key I hear click click click. There is no power at all. Got a battery boost, engine turned over. Drove 12 blocks to store waited in parking area letting engine run. Pulled out of parking stall into exit. Car died. I could not keep the rpms up.

Got another battery boost and had to keep my foot on the gas in order for the rpms to stay high enough that the engine would not stall. Got back home rev'ed engine up and down for 5 minutes turned car off. Tried ignition again and nothing . Just click click click

Could you tell me what you think it could be causing this problem

Thank you
Barbie

1 Reply

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
33,756 POSTS

You have one of two possible causes. The first is the battery could just be bad. Five years is about the most you can expect any battery to last. Try charging it at a slow rate with a home battery charger for an hour, then measure the voltage. It should be 12.6 volts when it's fully-charged. If it's around 11 volts or less, it has a shorted cell and must be replaced.

The generator could have failed too. That will prevent the battery from being recharged while you're driving. A good, fully-charged battery will only run the car's electrical system for a half hour to an hour at most, depending on how many things are turned on. The head lights and heater fan are the biggest things that will run the battery down in a few minutes. To do a basic test of the charging system, measure the battery voltage while the engine is running. It must be between 13.75 and 14.75 volts. If it is low, suspect the generator. That test is only accurate though when the battery is good and fully-charged.