My wife has a 1999 Camry and the battery looks to be draining. I replaced the connection terminals, added some distiled water, jumped the battery and it seemed to be ok. Drove on and off all day no problem, then boom, dead. Jumped the battery for 30 seconds started right up.

Just to be safe (Wife's car) I replaced the battery today. As I sit in the car idling, I can watch the digital clock get dimmer and dimmer. When I increase the RPM's the digital clock gets brighter. At first I thought it may be the alternator but with the clock getting brighter with the increased RPM's.... I assume that shows the alternator is working or am I wrong?

Money is tight so any advise would be most appreciated!


Thanks!

 

Sounds like the voltage regulator is messed up. I'm not sure how Toyota controls that. On old Chryslers it was a seperate module outside of the alternator. I think GM had the voltage regulator as part of the alternator. If you have a Digital Voltage meter, check the voltage on the battery terminals. Check it with the car off, engine idling,engine slightly revved, engine slightly more revved. The 4 readings SHOULD be....12 ish with the car off and the remaining 3 should be somewhere between about 13V-15V. If the remaining 3 are not between 13-15 your charging system isn't working as it should and you'll have some troubleshooting to do.