Toyota Repair: Echo electrical problem, 2000 toyota echo, clutch pedal

Question
Hi Ted,

I've bought a 2000 Toyota Echo 3 months ago (manual transmission, 58k), and for a while the car worked fine. (Well, except that the engine light came on the very day I bought it, but that was taken care of immediately: the O2 sensor was cleaned, the light went and stayed off.)

By the middle of March, the car developed a kind of whining noise, which usually disappeared when shifted in 4th gear. I thought it was the timing belt, but soon found out there is no timing belt in the Echo. Also, the clutch pedal was screeching when pressed (it still is) and the radio/CD stopped working (that is, radio display light comes on, but there is no sound). By the time I realized the whining noise must come from the alternator belt, the car also developed erratic idling. And finally, two weeks ago, it did not want to start (no spark at all, just flat dead).

I jump-started it and took it to the mechanic. After the jump, the car drove again like it used to when I bought it, the radio was functional again. The mechanic checked the electrical system and scaned for ECM codes, but got none. Checked the alternator belt, it was OK. The battery (bought by the previous owner last Fall) was re-charged. He also put some fuel injector cleaner in the tank. But otherwise, the mechanic said no problem at all with the car! The day before yesterday, though, after about two weeks, the radio stopped working again. Yesterday morning the car did not start (again, no spark at all). Jumped it and drove it for about half an hour, then parked it and after 20 minutes I was able to start the engine again.

What do you think might be the problem? I should also tell you that when the engine starts, it shakes rather too strongly and I believe is vibrating too strongly when idling.

Thanks very much!
JT


Answer
Since you are able to jump start the engine it means that there is a problem with the battery or the battery is not getting charged by the alternator, if there was an ignition problem the engine would not start when jumped, it would just crank over and not start up.
Have the alternator output tested again and make sure it is tested under a load with the proper equipment.