2003 corolla start problem - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

yosemitesam · 02-02-2009, 10:17 AM

this morning i tried to start my car but it would not start.

it showed the check engine, battery and oil light. i think the battery was working because my radio was working and so were all the lights - high beam - not sure though

here's the wierd part

i went back out to get something out of my car and thought of starting the car again and it started without any problem.

i have an aftermarket stereo and speakers - but i installed them last month.

i dont kno if i should just leave it or take it to a mechanic and what could the problem be.

thanks in advance

Rdkill · 02-02-2009, 10:27 AM

Check for corosion on the battery cables, clean if necessary. A battery can be dead enough not to start a car, but it will still run the aux equipment, this has happened to me before but that doesnt seem to be your problem.

bbsgarage · 02-02-2009, 12:48 PM

how did it not start?

starter clicking? no noise at all? turned over but did not start?

yosemitesam · 02-02-2009, 08:32 PM

no click long beep when turned the key all the way. took it to my mechanic he is keeping it over the night

chu77 · 04-17-2009, 10:11 PM

Any update?

bford17 · 04-17-2009, 10:28 PM

maybe its a grounding issue...

yosemitesam · 04-20-2009, 08:30 PM

oh i had an inverter plugged in (i think i forgot to mention this oops) with something in it and everytime i tried to start the car the inverter was using a lot of power and after i unplugged it worked fine

thanks for the replies people

karazy · 04-21-2009, 03:22 AM

So the beep, you heard, was the low voltage warning, from the inverter?

yosemitesam · 04-21-2009, 12:00 PM

it would beep everytime the car started but i think it was using too much energy for the car to start so it would beep and then turn off

adrianm413 · 04-25-2009, 01:54 PM

yeah also could have been a wiring problem or grounding problem. did you install the inverter yourself? I had my amp in my old car (alero) and when i sold my sound, the cable coming from the battery was grounding out and giving me the same problem you seem to have had. Just removed the wire and there ya go.

yosemitesam · 06-12-2009, 04:44 PM

So here's the update:

I started getting the problem again so i took it to my mechanic again. After checking the batter and alternator and changing them, it turns out that my aftermarket auto starter was messing with the original security alarm system making it think that the car was stolen and stop it from starting.

bford17 · 06-14-2009, 03:56 PM

so did you get it fixed?

yosemitesam · 06-14-2009, 05:09 PM

he gave me two options - either take the auto starter out or just use the original key fob to reset the security system. So i m just going to use the original key fob in case this happens again.