Hi,

I am having the 1998 Toyota Camry XLE V6. Last year I have changed the starter contacts. This year the battery is discharging very fast and unable to start the car in the morning. This issue starts when the temperatures are coming down.I want to know what I have to do to fix this issue.

Thank You,

Chand

Jump start the car and drive it to one of the auto parts stores in your area that offer free testing of the battery and alternator for free, while still on the car. First, call around to the auto parts stores in your area and ask if they offer this free service. This should tell you what is wrong and what needs to be replaced.

Mike

As suggested, it may simply be an old battery...any one older than 4 to 5 years is running on borrowed time regardless of the warranty. Get it load tested and see if its due for replacement. Hopefully you'll have the receipt for the old one to get the proper pro rata credit towards the new one, if the warranty allows it. Good luck!

Happy to see that you changed the starter contacts instead of the starter. It's about the only thing that goes bad in a starter. Installing a new starter in most cases is overkill.

If the battery passes a load test and isn't ancient, you may have what is called a parasitic power drain. Here's how to check it out: http://www.ricksfreeautorepairadvice.com/diagnostics/checking-out-battery-drain

I've had similar problems in the past and i think it could be the carbon brushes in the back of the alternator. Shouldn't cost too much to replace those. You can also test the voltage at the terminals while the car is running.