Toyota Nation Forum banner

1996 Toyota DX wont' start after 2 month in garage

539 Views 6 Replies 0 Participants Last post by  Ray O
G
Hi,

2, 3 month ago, my car started to have some problems, I'd hear a click,
but the engine wouldn't start. I had to try that a few times before
it'd started it again, at the time I didn't pay too much attention to
it.

Then I was out for 2 month and the car has just been sitting there. I
came back two days ago and today, I tried to start the car again, no
click, nothing. I figured my battery was out, so I used my other car to
jump start it, after 30 minutes of charging, same thing. At this
point, I thought I had a dead battery and sure enough, took it to Auto
Part, they confirmed it.

I bought a new battery home, installed it (I think I installed it
correctly, altough on the positive side, I tried to screw it as tight
as possible, but it's still a little loose... and during the process,
one time my wrench touched something and sparks came out, but that
shouldn't be a problem right?), anyway, so I tried to start the engine
again, signle click again. treid it another 10 times, 10 more single
click.

What could be the problem? I searched the forum and seemed like it
might be the starter? or could it be the spark plug? (and I thought the
spark plugs are the four things on top of the engine? I tried to pull
away the rubbers on top, but it was so tight, I was afraid I'd break
it, so I stopped)

Any suggestions is greatly appreicated it. Thanks a lot.
See less See more
1 - 7 of 7 Posts
G
"Liming" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]
> Hi,
>
> 2, 3 month ago, my car started to have some problems, I'd hear a click,
> but the engine wouldn't start. I had to try that a few times before
> it'd started it again, at the time I didn't pay too much attention to
> it.
>
> Then I was out for 2 month and the car has just been sitting there. I
> came back two days ago and today, I tried to start the car again, no
> click, nothing. I figured my battery was out, so I used my other car to
> jump start it, after 30 minutes of charging, same thing. At this
> point, I thought I had a dead battery and sure enough, took it to Auto
> Part, they confirmed it.
>
> I bought a new battery home, installed it (I think I installed it
> correctly, altough on the positive side, I tried to screw it as tight
> as possible, but it's still a little loose... and during the process,
> one time my wrench touched something and sparks came out, but that
> shouldn't be a problem right?), anyway, so I tried to start the engine
> again, signle click again. treid it another 10 times, 10 more single
> click.
>
> What could be the problem? I searched the forum and seemed like it
> might be the starter? or could it be the spark plug? (and I thought the
> spark plugs are the four things on top of the engine? I tried to pull
> away the rubbers on top, but it was so tight, I was afraid I'd break
> it, so I stopped)
>
> Any suggestions is greatly appreicated it. Thanks a lot.
>


The positive battery cable clamp has to be tight enough so that it does not
wiggle at all.

The sparking thing can be a huge problem - possible consequences are an
explosion or blown fuses or fusible link. Since you were getting clicking
afterwards, you were probably lucky and no damage was done.

If you are getting a click, the contact in the starter solenoid are probably
bad. I mean no offense, but if you are having difficulty changing a
battery, then changing the contacts in the starter solenoid may be beyond
the scope of your abilities and professional help may be in order.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)
See less See more
G
Lol., Thanks guys. Yeah, i think at this point, I'm completely out of
options, need to get it towed and check out the starter, sucks! I'm
very tempted to wack the starter, but i'm afraid to do more damage,
thanks again.


Ray O wrote:
> "Liming" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]
> > Hi,
> >
> > 2, 3 month ago, my car started to have some problems, I'd hear a click,
> > but the engine wouldn't start. I had to try that a few times before
> > it'd started it again, at the time I didn't pay too much attention to
> > it.
> >
> > Then I was out for 2 month and the car has just been sitting there. I
> > came back two days ago and today, I tried to start the car again, no
> > click, nothing. I figured my battery was out, so I used my other car to
> > jump start it, after 30 minutes of charging, same thing. At this
> > point, I thought I had a dead battery and sure enough, took it to Auto
> > Part, they confirmed it.
> >
> > I bought a new battery home, installed it (I think I installed it
> > correctly, altough on the positive side, I tried to screw it as tight
> > as possible, but it's still a little loose... and during the process,
> > one time my wrench touched something and sparks came out, but that
> > shouldn't be a problem right?), anyway, so I tried to start the engine
> > again, signle click again. treid it another 10 times, 10 more single
> > click.
> >
> > What could be the problem? I searched the forum and seemed like it
> > might be the starter? or could it be the spark plug? (and I thought the
> > spark plugs are the four things on top of the engine? I tried to pull
> > away the rubbers on top, but it was so tight, I was afraid I'd break
> > it, so I stopped)
> >
> > Any suggestions is greatly appreicated it. Thanks a lot.
> >

>
> The positive battery cable clamp has to be tight enough so that it does not
> wiggle at all.
>
> The sparking thing can be a huge problem - possible consequences are an
> explosion or blown fuses or fusible link. Since you were getting clicking
> afterwards, you were probably lucky and no damage was done.
>
> If you are getting a click, the contact in the starter solenoid are probably
> bad. I mean no offense, but if you are having difficulty changing a
> battery, then changing the contacts in the starter solenoid may be beyond
> the scope of your abilities and professional help may be in order.
> --
>
> Ray O
> (correct punctuation to reply)
See less See more
G
"Liming" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]
> Lol., Thanks guys. Yeah, i think at this point, I'm completely out of
> options, need to get it towed and check out the starter, sucks! I'm
> very tempted to wack the starter, but i'm afraid to do more damage,
> thanks again.



If the car has a manual transmission, push start it & save the towing
charge.
G
yeah, it's an auto, i can't get it to shift to neutral, otherwise, the
car shop is liek 5 minutes away, i can at least tow it using my other
car. :( too bad.


JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
> "Liming" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]
> > Lol., Thanks guys. Yeah, i think at this point, I'm completely out of
> > options, need to get it towed and check out the starter, sucks! I'm
> > very tempted to wack the starter, but i'm afraid to do more damage,
> > thanks again.

>
>
> If the car has a manual transmission, push start it & save the towing
> charge.
See less See more
G
"Liming" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]
>
> JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
>> "Liming" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:[email protected]
>> > Lol., Thanks guys. Yeah, i think at this point, I'm completely out of
>> > options, need to get it towed and check out the starter, sucks! I'm
>> > very tempted to wack the starter, but i'm afraid to do more damage,
>> > thanks again.

>>
>>
>> If the car has a manual transmission, push start it & save the towing
>> charge.

>


> yeah, it's an auto, i can't get it to shift to neutral, otherwise, the
> car shop is liek 5 minutes away, i can at least tow it using my other
> car. :( too bad.
>



Oh well. That eliminates another thing that worked for me when my starter
motor was on its last legs. I won't go into it, since it only works with a
manual transmission.
See less See more
G
"Liming" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]
> Lol., Thanks guys. Yeah, i think at this point, I'm completely out of
> options, need to get it towed and check out the starter, sucks! I'm
> very tempted to wack the starter, but i'm afraid to do more damage,
> thanks again.
>

Giving the starter a light tap with a hammer probably won't damage anything,
unless your aim is bad.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)
>
> Ray O wrote:
>> "Liming" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:[email protected]
>> > Hi,
>> >
>> > 2, 3 month ago, my car started to have some problems, I'd hear a click,
>> > but the engine wouldn't start. I had to try that a few times before
>> > it'd started it again, at the time I didn't pay too much attention to
>> > it.
>> >
>> > Then I was out for 2 month and the car has just been sitting there. I
>> > came back two days ago and today, I tried to start the car again, no
>> > click, nothing. I figured my battery was out, so I used my other car to
>> > jump start it, after 30 minutes of charging, same thing. At this
>> > point, I thought I had a dead battery and sure enough, took it to Auto
>> > Part, they confirmed it.
>> >
>> > I bought a new battery home, installed it (I think I installed it
>> > correctly, altough on the positive side, I tried to screw it as tight
>> > as possible, but it's still a little loose... and during the process,
>> > one time my wrench touched something and sparks came out, but that
>> > shouldn't be a problem right?), anyway, so I tried to start the engine
>> > again, signle click again. treid it another 10 times, 10 more single
>> > click.
>> >
>> > What could be the problem? I searched the forum and seemed like it
>> > might be the starter? or could it be the spark plug? (and I thought the
>> > spark plugs are the four things on top of the engine? I tried to pull
>> > away the rubbers on top, but it was so tight, I was afraid I'd break
>> > it, so I stopped)
>> >
>> > Any suggestions is greatly appreicated it. Thanks a lot.
>> >

>>
>> The positive battery cable clamp has to be tight enough so that it does
>> not
>> wiggle at all.
>>
>> The sparking thing can be a huge problem - possible consequences are an
>> explosion or blown fuses or fusible link. Since you were getting
>> clicking
>> afterwards, you were probably lucky and no damage was done.
>>
>> If you are getting a click, the contact in the starter solenoid are
>> probably
>> bad. I mean no offense, but if you are having difficulty changing a
>> battery, then changing the contacts in the starter solenoid may be beyond
>> the scope of your abilities and professional help may be in order.
>> --
>>
>> Ray O
>> (correct punctuation to reply)

>
See less See more
1 - 7 of 7 Posts
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top