Need Help!!!! - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Young James · 04-26-2007, 01:19 PM

I have a 95 corolla with 271k man trans. Lately whenever I go to start it (not all the time) the car won't start. Just hears a loud click. I can keep trying it a few times and wiggle the gear shift and pull the e-brake up and down and then she starts fine. What is it???

Nutter · 04-26-2007, 01:29 PM

Well, usually clicking when you try to start means that your battery doesn't have enough juice to start the car. Could just be a bad battery, but the fact that jacking with your parking brake and gear shift seem to alleviate the problem means perhaps a short? just a thought. First thing I'd do is have your battery / alternator tested. They can do it in the car and its free to do that at most auto part stores.

Gman94 · 04-26-2007, 01:53 PM

your battery, alternator or starter might be going i had the same problem with my old car it would just click and click then after like acouple of min of fulling around it would start or I would just do a rolling start but thats what was wrong with mine it was the starter. could be something different for you tho.

Young James · 04-26-2007, 03:50 PM

well I guess for the batt I could test the voltage when the car is off, then turn the car on and if it goes up to 14.4 volts or so, then my alt is good right? Any way to check the starter?

Nutter · 04-26-2007, 04:05 PM

The best way to check your alt or battery is to go to the auto parts store becaus they will check the amperage under a load, rather than just voltage. As for the starter, i know they can test that off the car, but i'm not sure how they could test it on the car. It could be that your Solenoid is sticking. On some vehicles the solenoid and starter can be sold separately, but i have no idea if thats the case on yours or not. I'd definitely start with the battery and alternator test at the ap store though.

90 GP · 04-26-2007, 04:28 PM

Sounds like the common Toyota ailment of worn solenoid contacts. They wear down to the point that you get the intermittent click instead of the starter operating. The repair is relatively cheap and easy to do.

Young James · 04-26-2007, 04:30 PM

I found my problem, well I hope it is. I looked at my wires going to my battery and the main power wire bolt was really loose. I could turn it with my hand, which means that the contacts was not connected like it should have been. This sound right?

Nutter · 04-26-2007, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Young James

I found my problem, well I hope it is. I looked at my wires going to my battery and the main power wire bolt was really loose. I could turn it with my hand, which means that the contacts was not connected like it should have been. This sound right?

That could definitely cause your issues. I'd clean off any corrosion, tighten it up, and then just test it out for awhile and see if that fixes the issue.

Gsolo · 04-26-2007, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 90 GP

Sounds like the common Toyota ailment of worn solenoid contacts. They wear down to the point that you get the intermittent click instead of the starter operating. The repair is relatively cheap and easy to do.

Once you verify you have proper power this is usually the problem...and at 271k miles if the starter hasn't been touched before then its definately do to replace the starter contacts if thats the problem.

Young James · 04-27-2007, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gsolo

Once you verify you have proper power this is usually the problem...and at 271k miles if the starter hasn't been touched before then its definately do to replace the starter contacts if thats the problem.

Well 271,000Kms, or 168,000 miles, but its still a fair number of kms