Car Is Completely DEAD

[emily102187]

Hi!!
I am new to this so please bear with me!! My Toyota Camry (97) won't start. There is no friction when turning the key, no lights come on, nothing. I tried to jump it, anf when I connected the black cable clamp, the car starts to make a noise similair to the car alarm. Anyway, I am young and female and this is my first car, so I wa hoping that someone, somewhere might take pity on me. Any suggestions?

[Mike Gerber]

The first thing to do would be to check the battery terminal connections themselves at the battery posts. Are they clean and tight? One connection may be loose and when you put the clamps from the jumper cables on, it may have squeezed the battery termimals a bit tighter on the battery posts-hence the noise you heard. You can take the battery terminals off the battery posts with a 10MM wrench. Then clean the battery posts and the insides of the battery terminals. They should be shinny clean to insure a good connection. You can get a battery post/terminal cleaner for only a couple of dollars at any auto parts store or even Walmart. If none is available, some sandpaper will do. The only words of caution I can pass along here is to take the negative battery terminal off first and reinstall it last. There should be markings on the battery itself which should say "POS" and "NEG" or "+" and "-". Also, wear gloves and try to keep any corrosion off your clothes. Corrosion can be a bit acidic and can destroy clothing. After cleaning and reinstalling the terminals, try restarting the car. If it still doesn't start after cleaning the posts/terminals, try jump starting the car again. It it now starts, drive the car for about an hour, preferably at highway speeds, with as few electrical accessories on as possible. This should allow your alternator to recharge the battery.

Mike

[somick]

I would like to add to what Mike said: do not be too hard on cleaning posts. They made out of lead (soft metal) and vigorous cleannig may make them too thin. You will not be able to get good contact then.
And one more thing. The white or blue stuff if present on contacts may be removed with the solution of baking soda (about a table spoon for about a pint of water). I use an old toothbrush.

After the problem is solved buy a contact protector jell and apply it to contacts. It work pretty well.

Good luck,

Sam

[RIP]

Welcome to the forum. If you try the above and still have problems barrow a known good battery from another car, preferably with the owners permission, and give it a try. If it now starts, take your battery to a Pepboys, Sears, Autozone, many gas stations, etc and have them charge your battery and perform a load test. If the battery is 4 years old or more I would just buy a new one.

Can you expand on "no friction when turning the key"? If I take that literally, I would think you don't feel or hear detents/clicks from the ignition switch when turning the key from "off" to "on" to "start" and the key doesn't spring back to "on" when released from the "start" position. If thats the case you need a new ign switch assembly. Or...are you just trying to say the engine doesn't rotate when you turn the key?