Starting Problem for Corolla-97 - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Rollamaster · 06-28-2007, 10:00 PM

Folks, I have a 97 corolla manual with around 115k (kms) and was fine for startups till yesterday. It has happened twice that when i start it up in the morning, The dash lights and seatbelt beep lights would turn on (very normal), i could hear the starter go a round and stop. when i turn the ignition off and turn it on again it would start. Once i drive the car a little bit - this problem doesnt bother me and the starter seems to be just fine after the first attempt but everytime i let it stand for a while and restart i run into starting issues. I donot really drive it very often but am not sure everytime i sit into it that would it start or not ! What could this be !? All i did was installed a audio system but thats about it, Am i looking at big $$$ to fix this ? please advice ? thanks.

retiredat44 · 06-29-2007, 07:53 AM

Solenoid maybe going bad (part of the starter). Afraid you need to take the starter out and take it to the auto store where they have free starter testing. How many miles on it? I am not sure if some stores/shops might be able to test it while on car, but al I know are the ones that test it off the car. Get one with lifetime warranty.

Rollamaster · 06-30-2007, 05:54 PM

You are right - solenoid could be the reason, I know this might sound stupid but is solenoid something that can be installed seperately or would i have to get a complete new starter ? just wondering - Its has only 115k (kms) and i just started to have more frequent startup failures

Funnyguy263 · 06-30-2007, 06:05 PM

You ever thing it might be the alternator as well? My uncle had this issue with his '92 Camry, and he just went and replaced both the starter and alter and it worked fine.

Rollamaster · 06-30-2007, 06:16 PM

is there anyway i can check if its bad alternator myself !?

Funnyguy263 · 06-30-2007, 10:48 PM

Sure, open your hood, ask someone to start the car and pay attention to it, and pay attention to it when it moves, if it moves then the alt is fine, if it doesn't then you have a problem

90 GP · 07-01-2007, 07:27 AM

The brass contacts (replaceable ) that the solenoid plunger hits when it engages wear down and cause your symptom. The contacts should be available from your dealer. Here is a link on the repair (Toyota truck) the procedure for a car is the same. Hardest part would be the actual removal of the starter. The contact replacement is easy.

http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/maintenance/starter/

darcsyde · 07-01-2007, 04:40 PM

you can take the alternator off and have it tested, usually the first thing to go out on the alternator is the ignition coil inside, if the alts bad replace the ignition coil, go to the junkyard and get one or buy a one, whichever, it'll be cheaper than buying a new or reman alt.

Flashmn · 07-01-2007, 05:52 PM

alternator with an ignition coil.. WTF?

Theres no ignition coil inside the alternator, its inside the fucking distributor. You could start up the car without the alternator and run it off the battery. Starting problems generally are ignition, fuel OR starter related, not charging related.

***REN69*** · 07-01-2007, 05:58 PM

I don't know man.. never seen an ignition coil inside an alternator.. must be JDM

The ignition coil is in a totally different spot from the alternator.

Flashmn · 07-01-2007, 06:02 PM

true that there is a coil inside the alternator, but thats for charging not ignition.

darcsyde · 07-01-2007, 08:00 PM

yeah realized after i posted that i said alternator i meant to say take the DISTRIBUTOR (THAT'S MY BAD) and get it checked ...