Corolla 96 1.8Engine, Start Problems

Everything started a couple of days ago where the car would start fine
but the starter would grind before I could back off the key. Then all
of a sudden it doesn't start at all. I checked the batery and needed
replacement. Also changed the terminals and cleaned any corrosion. The
problem persisted, sometimes I would move the battery cables a bit and
it would start (the starter would grind too). It's been a few days and
the car will not start. All of the lights turn on (check engine,
lights, oil) but no start. I could be the starter, but I don't want to
replace the whole thing if is not the right part. Could it be the
starter contacts?

<Alec.Subero@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1144771787.660746.287090@v46g2000cwv.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
> Everything started a couple of days ago where the car would start fine
> but the starter would grind before I could back off the key. Then all
> of a sudden it doesn't start at all. I checked the batery and needed
> replacement. Also changed the terminals and cleaned any corrosion. The
> problem persisted, sometimes I would move the battery cables a bit and
> it would start (the starter would grind too). It's been a few days and
> the car will not start. All of the lights turn on (check engine,
> lights, oil) but no start. I could be the starter, but I don't want to
> replace the whole thing if is not the right part. Could it be the
> starter contacts?
>[/color]

If the starter is grinding, either the bendix drive is hanging up, the drive
teeth are damaged, or the ring gear/flywheel teeth are damaged.

I'd start by securing the loose wiring to the starter.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

[email]Alec.Subero@gmail.com[/email] wrote:[color=blue]
> Everything started a couple of days ago where the car would start fine
> but the starter would grind before I could back off the key. Then all
> of a sudden it doesn't start at all. I checked the batery and needed
> replacement. Also changed the terminals and cleaned any corrosion. The
> problem persisted, sometimes I would move the battery cables a bit and
> it would start (the starter would grind too). It's been a few days and
> the car will not start. All of the lights turn on (check engine,
> lights, oil) but no start. I could be the starter, but I don't want to
> replace the whole thing if is not the right part. Could it be the
> starter contacts?[/color]

Is this a made in US/Canada Corolla? If so remove your starter. It will
say Delco on it. This is a General Motors part, therefore it starts like a
GM car. :-/ Your local autoparts store should be able to get you a rebuilt
starter for ~$100.

I just replaced the starter and still has the same problem. Its not the
battery and its not the starter, what could it be???

some...@somewhere.org wrote:[color=blue]
> [email]Alec.Subero@gmail.com[/email] wrote:[color=green]
> > Everything started a couple of days ago where the car would start fine
> > but the starter would grind before I could back off the key. Then all
> > of a sudden it doesn't start at all. I checked the batery and needed
> > replacement. Also changed the terminals and cleaned any corrosion. The
> > problem persisted, sometimes I would move the battery cables a bit and
> > it would start (the starter would grind too). It's been a few days and
> > the car will not start. All of the lights turn on (check engine,
> > lights, oil) but no start. I could be the starter, but I don't want to
> > replace the whole thing if is not the right part. Could it be the
> > starter contacts?[/color]
>
> Is this a made in US/Canada Corolla? If so remove your starter. It will
> say Delco on it. This is a General Motors part, therefore it starts like a
> GM car. :-/ Your local autoparts store should be able to get you a rebuilt
> starter for ~$100.[/color]

"Flyer729" <Alec.Subero@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1144801532.686475.131920@t31g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
>I just replaced the starter and still has the same problem. Its not the
> battery and its not the starter, what could it be???[/color]


As I mentioned before, starter grinding noises generally are caused by a
problem with the bendix not engaging the pinion with the flex
plate/flywheel, bad pinion gear, or bad flex plate if you have an automatic
transmission or flywheel if you have a manual transmission.

You can remove the starter and apply power to the starter from the battery
with jumper cables and see if the pinion gear extends all the way.

If you are getting grinding noises, remove the starter and take a look at
the teeth on the flex plate/flywheel. If the teeth are OK, have someone
turn the engine over with a wrench on the lower crankshaft pulley (make sure
the ignition is off!) while you inspect the teeth. You may want to mark the
starting point with a marker so you don't make your friend do more work than
necessary.

If you are not getting grinding and just an intermittent start, check the
battery clamps, cables, ground cables, and starter relay and relay contacts.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)