97 Corolla DX probs starting sometimes

[thatchrisguy]

Hi, I hope somebody can clue me in on what's happening here.
I recently got a 97 Corolla DX standard, and everything works...that is, except:

Sometimes I go to start the car, and it just makes a noise like it wants to, but the starter doesn't crank. This model has some sort of intrusion device of some kind. There's a little security light that flashes on the console, however I have no documentation for the thing.

I'm wondering if it's something with that that disables me being able to start the car. I've noticed a couple of times where I think i can reset something by opening the door and closing it, or turning on the wipers and off, and then start the car.. but that might just be a coincidence.

Could it be something with the security device or is it the normal 'You need a new starter', or something.

[Piloter]

The factory alarm on that generation I don't think has any kind of immobilization function....but I could be wrong.

How old is your battery? If it's over 5 years, it needs to be looked at and probably changed, regardless if it's starting the car most of the time or not. (This just bit me HARD the other day. Sears has a free evaluation service.

On the bright side, your starter works (or the car wouldn't start at all) and the solenoid works, or you wouldn't be getting a clicking noise.

Probably the first thing you can do is take off the battery cables, clean off the battery terminals and surface (and clamps) with a sponge with some baking soda in water on it. A little Vaseline (not kidding) on the terminals and clamps can help prevent corrosion from reforming...and if you're lucky, the problem may just be a crudded up connection. If that doesn't resolve the issue, get your battery checked out.

[darcsyde]

and if what piloter says doesn't work check the ground wire for the starter, make sure that it is connected good

[Piloter]

It's worth checking the grounds on the fusebox as well.

[thatchrisguy]

Thanks you guys
I cleaned up the battery connectors and terminals..They seemed not too bad, but i will get some baking soda /water mixture on it to clean them better.. Vaseline? Ok, seems almost like it would work the opposite way, but i'll definitely take your word for it..

It almost seems to start a little quicker already.. It'll be a have to wait and see thing, cause it only ever happens every couple days or so..

One more question..might be a stupid question:
There's a sticker on part of the housing on the engine that my car can be remote started..Something about flipping a switch under the dash if i need to work on the engine if i have a remote starter.. This is a standard. Was there a remote starter for standard available for these? (97 corolla)

I'm sort of wondering if it was a replacement part from the wreckers...

[Piloter]

Clarification: Put Vaseline on the area AFTER you put the cables on the terminals. Otherwise, yeah, it'll be counterproductive. =)

Not sure about the remote starter thing.

[thatchrisguy]

Sorry Piloter...i didn't mean to reply to this via email...I meant it here:

ok ok, duh...lucky you told me that..ha.. No really, i was about to
coat the thing and then put it back on.. /wasn't being sarcastic

[thatchrisguy]

Welllll..it did it again today.. It took a few key turns to get the starter to kick in. I noticed yesterday when i had the battery cables off, that the positive cable looks like it's missing a conductor ...What i mean is, is that instead of a solid piece of metal, there's only two rings that conduct, and looks like a middle bit might've fallen off. Maybe i should get new heads put on the cable..what do ya think? It looks semi difficult to swap the cables out completely.

I'll check the ground on the starter next..

[thatchrisguy]

i'm obviously an idiot, cause i can't for the life of me find the starter. is it accessible by crawling under ?

[thefish]

generally it's stuck on the transmission near the firewall, just about the most inconvenient place ever (speaking as a tercel person, yours might be slightly different)

[Piloter]

The positive cable is supposed to look like that, it's OK. I'd recommend getting the battery evaluated at this point, as it should be free (or around $15 for somewhere to test everything in the electrical starting system...belts, starter, alternator, cables, solenoid, etc) and while you're there, if the battery and etc are fine, you can pick up new ends. Most auto parts stores will have an evaluation service...may or may not be complementary.

[jlyang]

Hey,
Re. your car's problem, my '89 SR5 was doing the same thing a couple years ago (139k miles). When I turned the key, I'd hear like half a crank, then if I tried again, the car would start quickly. The battery was new and strong. After this went on for a month I went to my mechanic, described the symptoms, and he said his guess was the starter. He charged $247 to replace it. I don't know how to find it myself but he said it was in a tough spot and not fun to change it. After he changed the starter the problem never recurred. My car's starter was 15 years old though; I don't know how likely it is to go bad in a '97 Corolla

--John

Originally Posted by thatchrisguy

i'm obviously an idiot, cause i can't for the life of me find the starter. is it accessible by crawling under ?

[ghost_ryder35]

is the noise it makes a clicking noise? Sounds like the starter soleinoid.

[darcsyde]

the starter is can be found by looking below the intake manifold you can see it there, it's not the funniest thing in the world to get to, but i've changed worse starters