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Engine Car dies when rear defrost is triggered

Discussion in 'Powertrain' started by corolla_man_j, May 29, 2004.

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    corolla_man_j Guest

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    Car dies when rear defrost is triggered

    the other day I cranked my car and went to turn on my rear defrost, when I hit the rear defrost button, my car died. I cranked it back up and revved it up and same thing; the car died. I decided to not try to hit the defrost button until I dropped my fiance off at her house, so , on the way home, I hit the button and I was going about 35, driving fine, until I hit the rear defrost button, and the car died. I was thinking that it was the alternater, but I think that my air conditioner, which works fine, would draw more current then the rear defrost. I went to get the battery/alternater checked today, and the guy said that it was charging the battery fine, but it was fluctuating, he seems to think that my alternater might be dying, but the car runs fine with the stereo on and up, air conditioner on full blast, and turning the wheels from full left lock to full right lock....I really am stumped on this, any help would be greatly appreciated.
    corolla_man_j, May 29, 2004
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    d_samurai Guest

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    alternator! thats doin it! its breakin on ya...mine made a horrible whistle noise everytime i turned my headlights on -or rear defroster-you need to change it asap b/f it croaks on you..i got mine for 90 bucks-and installed it myself-its tricky but do-able..
    d_samurai, May 29, 2004
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    corolla_man_j Guest

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    ok thanks!!! where did you get yours from? and how did you install it ?
    corolla_man_j, May 29, 2004
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    d_samurai Guest

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    i got mine from advance auto parts near my neighborhood (its 90 bucks AFTER core charge-basically you must bring your old one back, otherwise you pay about 180!)-you must make sure that you get the right model-there's nippondenso and then there's delco-mine was a nippondenso-what year is your car? you can also tell by lookin at it closely-it will have some markings as well. as far as installation-i wouldnt recommend doin it yourself if your not experienced with painful, bloody, and confusing mechanic work...i had a grease monkey with me-so he helped alot-you need a visual aid=like a book, serpentine belt wrench to loosen bolts, theres a lock nut, and a pivot bolt that must be loosened as well-getting it off was easy-puttin it on-was a PAIN IN THE ASS! wedging it on while connecting electrical connectors underneath-and getting it to sit back in place was hard-the whole thing took about 1.5 hours-
    d_samurai, May 30, 2004
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    corolla_man_j Guest

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    mine is a 98, blank all those belt crap and all that hoopla, that's what mechanics are for
    corolla_man_j, May 30, 2004
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    d_samurai Guest

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    lol! yeah-if i was doin this myself, i would have surely given up- since youve got a 98, that changes the installation story a bit-best thing is to let an auto shop do it! no offense, but 98-02's and maybe 03's-04's....are REAL difficult to work with as far as the belts go-b/c there's ONLY ONE HUGe serpentine belt-im glad ive got an older version! keeps things simple
    d_samurai, May 30, 2004
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    CraigW New Member

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    When I had my serpentine belt changed it took the mechanic about 2 minutes to take the old belt off and install the new one. You just have to know the proper operation of the tension release.

    I dont trust ANY rebuilt parts from cheap sources. Most times cause more problems.

    I would think that if you fully loaded the car with headlights/blower fan max/brake lights/wipers and all items except defroster it would draw as much OR MORE current than the defroster alone. And if the alternator were causing problem it should do it then ???

    CW
    CraigW, May 30, 2004
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    d_samurai Guest

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    yeah-but when i put on my defroster, i could hear an immediate change in sound comin from the alternator-like a dying sound, whistle sound...so i think it draws alot more current than any other electrical item in the car...also, i was going by the haynes manual...so i got lost several times doin it! lol! but any mechanic w/ proper tools could do this in a jiffy...
    d_samurai, May 30, 2004
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    CraigW New Member

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    It is right there on top should be no problems to change out. Good luck !! CW
    CraigW, May 30, 2004
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    e_andree E

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    If you have nothing else on, and you put on the rear defroster and the car dies, but it doesnt die when you have the AC on or radio, it doesnt sound like your alternator causing the problem.

    When you put your foot on the brake, does your AC lose power? Or do your lights dim? That would happen......I would get things checked out again.

    If he said your battery was holding its charge, that shows that your alternator was charging it while you were driving....it doesnt sound like the alternator to me.
    May be a bad ground....or a cut wire within your defrosting system that is bridging somewhere.

    If you just hit that button and the car dies, it would be logical that you would not have enough charge within the battery to re-start the car.
    e_andree, May 30, 2004
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    corolla_man_j Guest

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    true.....hmmm I better check out all of my 'expertly installed' e-manage connections lol
    corolla_man_j, May 31, 2004
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    Senna4ever Guest

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    A/C does not use electrical power, it runs off the engine.
    Senna4ever, Jun 1, 2004
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    Vamp Gunmetal 2001 Corolla S

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    98-02 is easier to replace and a 93-97. I've changed out my alternator in 20-30 minutes tops on my ride.
    Vamp, Jun 1, 2004
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    CraigW New Member

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    The AC requires a small amount of electrical for the clutch to engage.

    Have you ran the defroster since you have performed the mod to the ECU ??

    CW
    CraigW, Jun 1, 2004
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    cleanrolla97dx Guest

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    lmfao

    cleanrolla97dx, Jun 1, 2004
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    corolla_man_j Guest

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    I think that I have ran the defrost since I did my ecu mod....at any rate, there are some other things to take care of now....it's like my car is taking a giant crap on my bank account....shaddup jay
    corolla_man_j, Jun 1, 2004
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    toyotaspeed90 New Member

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    at least on the 4age's, 4afe's, and 7afe's the a/c runs off of the power steering and crank.... then it's the alt, water pump, and the crank

    here's for removal..... : remove wiring, loosen the top bolt, slide forward and remove the belt.... go under (or from the top, whichever is easier), remove the long bolt that holds it in from the bottom (the "pivot" bolt) then go up top again and completely remove the top bolt... and if you think it's hard in a corolla... try an mr2....
    toyotaspeed90, Jun 1, 2004
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