All power is lost when key is put in ignition

Tiny
KELVINSMITH
  • MEMBER
  • 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY
  • 0.5L
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 169,000 MILES
When I put the key in the ignition I loose all power and have to be jump started. I just bought a battery three months ago. So is it the alternator or starter?
Thursday, June 20th, 2019 AT 8:49 PM

1 Reply

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,201 POSTS
Welcome to 2CarPros.

If you have power and then lose it when you try to start the car, my first suspect is a loose or corroded battery cable, especially if the car stays running after it starts. Take a look through this link.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/everything-goes-dead-when-engine-is-cranked

After driving the car, do a simple load test on the battery to confirm it is charged.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-battery-load-test

If it passes the load test and still fails to start the car, refer back to the first link I mentioned.

See if that helps. If you suspect that alternator may be bad, here is a quick link that shows how to test one. It's simple to do.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-a-car-alternator

You will need a volt meter or multi meter to test voltage.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-use-a-voltmeter

If you don't own one, you can get them for around ten dollars.

I really feel it isn't related to the alternator or starter unless the battery is dead and not being recharged. If the starter works every time you jump start it, that doesn't sound bad either. However, if you find the alternator isn't charging, here are the directions for replacement.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-an-alternator

Here are directions specific to your vehicle. Make sure the belt is tight before you replace it. A loose belt can cause the alternator to fail. The attached pictures correlate with the directions.

___________________________

REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION

pic 1

pic 2

COMPONENTS

REMOVAL

pic 3

1. REMOVE DRIVE BELT
Loosen the pivot bolt, adjusting lock bolt, and adjusting bolt, and remove the drive belt.
Torque:
Pivot bolt: 56 Nm (570 kgf.cm, 41 ft.lbf)
Lock bolt: 18 Nm (180 kgf.cm, 13 ft.lbf)

pic 4

2. REMOVE GENERATOR
a. Disconnect the generator connector.
b. Remove the nut, and disconnect the generator wire.
c. Disconnect the wire harness from the clip.
d. Remove the pivot bolt, plate washer, adjusting lock bolt and generator.

INSTALLATION
Installation is the reverse order of removal.

_________________________________

Let me know if any of this helps. Again, my first suspect is a loose or corroded battery terminal. Please feel free to let me know if you have other questions or need help.

Take care,
Joe
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Thursday, June 20th, 2019 AT 10:33 PM

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