Odd problem - 92 Corolla

I have a '92 Corolla 2-wheel drive wagon that lately has developed a
mystery problem. I've had two pro mechanics test for it, but so far no
definite answers. After I drive a hundred miles or so and turn off the
motor, the starter will not re-engage even though the clutch is down
fully when I turn the key. Then after an hour or so it starts
immediately, and always does so when the motor is cold, or after short
hops. The battery is up to full charge - I've even had a jump start
when the car was experiencing the problem, but no go. All the wires
have been checked to see if they're loose. One mechanic suggested the
fault might be in the device that allows electricity to flow to the
starter when the pedal is fully depressed. It's maddening! Has anyone a
suggestion, or a solution, please?

Bobcat wrote:
[color=blue]
> I have a '92 Corolla 2-wheel drive wagon that lately has developed a
> mystery problem. I've had two pro mechanics test for it, but so far no
> definite answers. After I drive a hundred miles or so and turn off the
> motor, the starter will not re-engage even though the clutch is down
> fully when I turn the key. Then after an hour or so it starts
> immediately, and always does so when the motor is cold, or after short
> hops. The battery is up to full charge - I've even had a jump start
> when the car was experiencing the problem, but no go. All the wires
> have been checked to see if they're loose. One mechanic suggested the
> fault might be in the device that allows electricity to flow to the
> starter when the pedal is fully depressed. It's maddening! Has anyone a
> suggestion, or a solution, please?[/color]

Sounds like the starter contacts are worn. Common problem on older Toyotas.

High Tech Misfit wrote:
[color=blue]
> Sounds like the starter contacts are worn. Common problem on older Toyotas.[/color]

Thanks. Tomorrow I'm taking the car to one of those mechanics I
mentioned, and I'll show him your useful suggestion and others people
may send.

"Bobcat" <bob_catt@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1147614031.598758.70740@g10g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
>I have a '92 Corolla 2-wheel drive wagon that lately has developed a
> mystery problem. I've had two pro mechanics test for it, but so far no
> definite answers. After I drive a hundred miles or so and turn off the
> motor, the starter will not re-engage even though the clutch is down
> fully when I turn the key. Then after an hour or so it starts
> immediately, and always does so when the motor is cold, or after short
> hops. The battery is up to full charge - I've even had a jump start
> when the car was experiencing the problem, but no go. All the wires
> have been checked to see if they're loose. One mechanic suggested the
> fault might be in the device that allows electricity to flow to the
> starter when the pedal is fully depressed. It's maddening! Has anyone a
> suggestion, or a solution, please?
>[/color]

As High Tech Misfit suggested, the contacts in the starter relay may be
worn, and it is simple enough to check whether current is flowing from the
relay when the condition is present. It is also easy to check continuity
through the clutch safety switch when the condition is present.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

Ray O wrote:
[color=blue]
> As High Tech Misfit suggested, the contacts in the starter relay may be
> worn, and it is simple enough to check whether current is flowing from the
> relay when the condition is present. It is also easy to check continuity
> through the clutch safety switch when the condition is present.[/color]

Thanks. I'm printing out your suggestion and High Tech Misfit's and
showing them to my mechanic when I see him tomorrow. My problem is in
your phrase "when the condition is present". By the time he got to
where my car was stalled yesterday, it started up when he tried it, and
it'll probably do that when I take it in to him. I'm hoping he can find
the problem when the starter is working.

"Bobcat" <bob_catt@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1147643955.349599.188220@u72g2000cwu.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
>
> Ray O wrote:
>[color=green]
>> As High Tech Misfit suggested, the contacts in the starter relay may be
>> worn, and it is simple enough to check whether current is flowing from
>> the
>> relay when the condition is present. It is also easy to check continuity
>> through the clutch safety switch when the condition is present.[/color]
>
> Thanks. I'm printing out your suggestion and High Tech Misfit's and
> showing them to my mechanic when I see him tomorrow. My problem is in
> your phrase "when the condition is present". By the time he got to
> where my car was stalled yesterday, it started up when he tried it, and
> it'll probably do that when I take it in to him. I'm hoping he can find
> the problem when the starter is working.
>[/color]

"Bobcat" <bob_catt@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1147643955.349599.188220@u72g2000cwu.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
>
> Ray O wrote:
>[color=green]
>> As High Tech Misfit suggested, the contacts in the starter relay may be
>> worn, and it is simple enough to check whether current is flowing from
>> the
>> relay when the condition is present. It is also easy to check continuity
>> through the clutch safety switch when the condition is present.[/color]
>
> Thanks. I'm printing out your suggestion and High Tech Misfit's and
> showing them to my mechanic when I see him tomorrow. My problem is in
> your phrase "when the condition is present". By the time he got to
> where my car was stalled yesterday, it started up when he tried it, and
> it'll probably do that when I take it in to him. I'm hoping he can find
> the problem when the starter is working.
>[/color]

Whether the cause is the clutch safety switch or the starter relay, current
flow will probably be marginal all the time and so they can be tested with a
multi-meter.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

Ray O wrote:
[color=blue]
> Whether the cause is the clutch safety switch or the starter relay, current
> flow will probably be marginal all the time and so they can be tested with a
> multi-meter.
> Ray O[/color]

OK, thanks for that.
Bobcat

"Bobcat" <bob_catt@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1147690111.237397.90970@i39g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
>
> Ray O wrote:
>[color=green]
>> Whether the cause is the clutch safety switch or the starter relay,
>> current
>> flow will probably be marginal all the time and so they can be tested
>> with a
>> multi-meter.
>> Ray O[/color]
>
> OK, thanks for that.
> Bobcat
>[/color]

You're welcome! Let us know what the problem turns out to be.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

"Ray O" <rokigawa@tristarassociatesDOTcomn> wrote in message
news:19c9d$4468b2c8$44a4a10d$22689@msgid.meganewsservers.com...[color=blue]
>
> "Bobcat" <bob_catt@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1147690111.237397.90970@i39g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...[color=green]
>>
>> Ray O wrote:
>>[color=darkred]
>>> Whether the cause is the clutch safety switch or the starter relay,
>>> current
>>> flow will probably be marginal all the time and so they can be tested
>>> with a
>>> multi-meter.
>>> Ray O[/color]
>>
>> OK, thanks for that.
>> Bobcat[/color][/color]
[color=blue]
> You're welcome! Let us know what the problem turns out to be.
> Ray O[/color]

Will do. I need the car tomorrow and Wednesday, but armed with what you folk
have said I'll probably see my mechanic on Thursday, whether or not the
starter is functioning. It's working perfectly - for now, but I'm only
making short hops in the city. Unfortunately I never know when it'll stall -
maddening!

Hi again -
Here's an additional note. Last night my next door neighbour dropped
off a Haynes Toyota Corolla repair manual he didn't need any more
because he sold his Corolla, about the age of mine. He'd done his own
repairs, and when I described my problem of the starter failing after
long trips he immediately said he though he knew what it was. When the
starter gets old, the insulation on the windings deteriorates, and
after heat builds under the hood on long trips, the starter fails to
operate until it cools down. He said he'd recommend having my mechanic
test for this, and if it's the problem, order a rebuilt starter - the
new ones from Toyota are very expensive for such an old car as mine.
How does this sound to you people?
Thanks; Bobcat

"Bobcat" <bob_catt@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1147777997.907187.316660@g10g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
> Hi again -
> Here's an additional note. Last night my next door neighbour dropped
> off a Haynes Toyota Corolla repair manual he didn't need any more
> because he sold his Corolla, about the age of mine. He'd done his own
> repairs, and when I described my problem of the starter failing after
> long trips he immediately said he though he knew what it was. When the
> starter gets old, the insulation on the windings deteriorates, and
> after heat builds under the hood on long trips, the starter fails to
> operate until it cools down. He said he'd recommend having my mechanic
> test for this, and if it's the problem, order a rebuilt starter - the
> new ones from Toyota are very expensive for such an old car as mine.
> How does this sound to you people?
> Thanks; Bobcat
>[/color]

The scenario your neighbor described is possible although I've never heard
of that happening on a Toyota. Standard starting system diagnosis by a
competent technician should reveal the cause of the problem.

BTW, Toyota genuine parts do not become more expensive as the car they are
intended for ages. I've heard of people having to return aftermarket
rebuilt starters numerous times to get one that works. Toyota
remanufactured starters undergo 100% bench testing and I have not heard any
complaints about their quality.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

Ray O wrote:[color=blue]
> The scenario your neighbor described is possible although I've never heard
> of that happening on a Toyota. Standard starting system diagnosis by a
> competent technician should reveal the cause of the problem.
>
> BTW, Toyota genuine parts do not become more expensive as the car they are
> intended for ages. I've heard of people having to return aftermarket
> rebuilt starters numerous times to get one that works. Toyota
> remanufactured starters undergo 100% bench testing and I have not heard any
> complaints about their quality.
> Ray O[/color]

Got you, Ray. Your reply goes into the file to take to my serviceman.
Thanks.

"Bobcat" <bob_catt@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1147815776.784048.11010@j33g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
>
> Ray O wrote:[color=green]
>> The scenario your neighbor described is possible although I've never
>> heard
>> of that happening on a Toyota. Standard starting system diagnosis by a
>> competent technician should reveal the cause of the problem.
>>
>> BTW, Toyota genuine parts do not become more expensive as the car they
>> are
>> intended for ages. I've heard of people having to return aftermarket
>> rebuilt starters numerous times to get one that works. Toyota
>> remanufactured starters undergo 100% bench testing and I have not heard
>> any
>> complaints about their quality.
>> Ray O[/color]
>
> Got you, Ray. Your reply goes into the file to take to my serviceman.
> Thanks.
>[/color]

I'm sure your serviceman is going to love advice from some guy on the
internet ;-)

Good luck on the repair - let us know what he finds.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

Ray O wrote:[color=blue]
> I'm sure your serviceman is going to love advice from some guy on the
> internet ;-)[/color]

I won't hit him with the file - I'll paraphrase what you and others
have said. The file's for me to look over in the car before I go in to
see him! :>)
[color=blue]
> Good luck on the repair - let us know what he finds.
> Ray O[/color]

Will do, for sure.
Bobcat