Strange Starting Problem

October 14, 2006

:help: Hi. I have a 1987 Celica GT hatchback with over 237,000 miles. I love the car, but over the past year I have experienced a starting problem which occurs apparently at random. I turn the ignition key and there is a click, but no starter rotation. Nothing. This can be persistent for minutes or days. The car has been to the dealer's shop six times in the past year, twice towed in. Sometimes they can duplicate the problem, sometimes not. The shop has replaced the starter twice, the Battery, the ignition switch electric assembly, the rotor and wiring harness, and they cleaned the Battery cable. Since the last visit to the shop a month ago, the car has started OK, but I am not confident. Has anyone experienced this problem? Any advice would be appreciated, since the technician is almost as frustrated as I am.

Thanks for your help.

October 15, 2006

Hi. Welcome to TOC. :D

You don`t say if your starter motor relay has been checked/replaced. It looks as if you`ve exhausted all the other options. I`d be inclined to check that puppy out if/when it happens again. :thumbsup:

October 20, 2006

Hi. Welcome to TOC. :D
You don`t say if your starter motor relay has been checked/replaced. It looks as if you`ve exhausted all the other options. I`d be inclined to check that puppy out if/when it happens again.

Thanks, daktari.

I thought of that, but the I don't think the dealer technician knows where the relay is. He seems to think the starting current runs through the ignition switch directly to the starter! If you can tell me the location of the relay on the engine, I'll point it out to him. Thanks again.

Chuck E.

October 20, 2006

On the gen 5 it`s behind the drivers side kick panel. But i see yours is a gen 4. .... Different location. Checked the manual and apparently it`s "located on the left hand cowl" !Removed! yanks :rolleyes: What the ruudy hell do they call a cowl???? Could be around the dash somewhere? :unsure:

Have you tried asking over at TOC!? :thumbsup:

November 1, 2006

On the gen 5 it`s behind the drivers side kick panel. But i see yours is a gen 4. .... Different location. Checked the manual and apparently it`s "located on the left hand cowl" !Removed! yanks What the ruudy hell do they call a cowl???? Could be around the dash somewhere?
Have you tried asking over at TOC!?

I had the same problem changed every thing. When you turn on the ignition wait until the Battery symbol lights up befor you give the twist to start. If I dont sometime had to ewait hrs to try again. I think it may be due to the immobilisor.