01-25-2006, 09:42 PM
My Mom called from my sister's and said her '97 Avalon wouldn't start. She turned it off to go in the house, but left the key in and didn't turn it off all the way. The lights were on when she came back out.
She tried to start it as I listened over the phone. At first, it made the "wrrr, wrrr wrrr" sound, but it didn't slow down and get draggy. Then it made a high-pitched machine gun clicky sound. She said the interior lights were not dimming.
She had the started rebuilt a couple or 3 years ago. I'm wondering whether to get a new battery (she's had the car 5 years without a new one) or check into getting another starter.
It seems it's done this before and I don't recall if I jumped it or tapped on the battery terminals or tapped the starter with a hammer.
It's several miles to where she she is and she can wait awhile, but I want an idea of what to do and whether to swing by Wal-mart and get a battery.
She tried to start it as I listened over the phone. At first, it made the "wrrr, wrrr wrrr" sound, but it didn't slow down and get draggy. Then it made a high-pitched machine gun clicky sound. She said the interior lights were not dimming.
She had the started rebuilt a couple or 3 years ago. I'm wondering whether to get a new battery (she's had the car 5 years without a new one) or check into getting another starter.
It seems it's done this before and I don't recall if I jumped it or tapped on the battery terminals or tapped the starter with a hammer.
It's several miles to where she she is and she can wait awhile, but I want an idea of what to do and whether to swing by Wal-mart and get a battery.