car won't start, HELP!

[sbuswell]

My wife's 98 corrolla has had a crappy starter for a few months now. It takes usually 3-5 tries to get it to start. Tonight I had her car and was going to pick up my daughter and I tried to start it a few times and I heard the starter clicking like always then it almost started and then gave out. I tried again and the starter wasn't even clicking. Then I turn key to off and pull it out of ignition and gauge cluster back lights start flashing and so do the headlights. I turn the headlights on and then the gauge cluster and headlights go off. I wait a few seconds and turn headlights on again and they are very dim. I turn the key again and nothing but the same over and over. I got a jump from my neighbor and she started up only after I turned the headlights on. It would even try tom turnover until headlights were on. This is confusing the hell out of me. My thoughts were a variety of problems.

1. ignition switch
2. alternator
3. battery
4. something shorting out
5. starter is a known problem

Sorry for the long post, but any help will be greatly appreciated.

[Corolla101]

Hey man,

Sounds like your battery is just dead. Try boosting it again or getting the battery charged. As for the starter, go underneath your car, locate the starter, and hit it lightly with a hammer. In my experience, that has seemed to work.

Good Luck,

Corolla101

[Limnos]

A bad battery can make you think you have a bad starter. Cars need lots of electricity to start and what will light your headlights and dash may not make your starter do more than engage the solenoid (click). If your battery is more than 5 years old then it's almost certainly that, especially since you were saying it looks like a bad battery.