Engine Struggling To Start On A 1.4 T3 (2002)

[Decky]

Hello everyone, I'm new in this forum. Nice to meet you all.

Just bought this 52 plate (2002) Corolla 1.4 T3 with 33k miles on the clock a week ago. The car runs alright so far, but just spotted this problem when the engine starts.

I turned the key to the end and hold to start the engine, normally it should go "dtru dtru dtru" and the engine will start. But these few days, it went "dtru dtru dtru dtru dtru dtru......" and doesn't want to start. So I switched it off, tried again. Sometimes it'll start, sometimes it needed a couple of go to make it start. I've tried to give a little rev on the pedal whilst struggling, but still not helping it (well... sometimes it helps sometimes it doesn't).

This is an intermittent problem and I don't think it's because of the morning cold-start as it usually happens in the lunch time (morning starts OK). I don't know much about cars but I think it might be either the Battery or the spark plugs.

Could anyone give me some advice?? Thanks for your help!

[petemagsati]

Hello everyone, I'm new in this forum. Nice to meet you all.

Just bought this 52 plate (2002) Corolla 1.4 T3 with 33k miles on the clock a week ago. The car runs alright so far, but just spotted this problem when the engine starts.

I turned the key to the end and hold to start the engine, normally it should go "dtru dtru dtru" and the engine will start. But these few days, it went "dtru dtru dtru dtru dtru dtru......" and doesn't want to start. So I switched it off, tried again. Sometimes it'll start, sometimes it needed a couple of go to make it start. I've tried to give a little rev on the pedal whilst struggling, but still not helping it (well... sometimes it helps sometimes it doesn't).

This is an intermittent problem and I don't think it's because of the morning cold-start as it usually happens in the lunch time (morning starts OK). I don't know much about cars but I think it might be either the battery or the spark plugs.

Could anyone give me some advice?? Thanks for your help!

I've had the same problem on the same car. I let it go for a week or two and then one day the car was completely dead (no warning lights or anything, not even the beep when you have the key in and the door open) after I'd been driving it the same day. Push started it and 70 miles later my power steering went in the middle of a fast corner, as soon as I stopped the car it was dead again. I reckon its the Battery, I'm actually in the process of changing it right now! I recommend getting your Battery checked/changed now, cause if its like mine it could go at any time and its really crap ringing people for jump leads for an 02 Toyota. I had to jump it off an old Fiat Brava yesterday............

[Ed_Shek]

Hello everyone, I'm new in this forum. Nice to meet you all.

Just bought this 52 plate (2002) Corolla 1.4 T3 with 33k miles on the clock a week ago. The car runs alright so far, but just spotted this problem when the engine starts.

I turned the key to the end and hold to start the engine, normally it should go "dtru dtru dtru" and the engine will start. But these few days, it went "dtru dtru dtru dtru dtru dtru......" and doesn't want to start. So I switched it off, tried again. Sometimes it'll start, sometimes it needed a couple of go to make it start. I've tried to give a little rev on the pedal whilst struggling, but still not helping it (well... sometimes it helps sometimes it doesn't).

This is an intermittent problem and I don't think it's because of the morning cold-start as it usually happens in the lunch time (morning starts OK). I don't know much about cars but I think it might be either the battery or the spark plugs.

Could anyone give me some advice?? Thanks for your help!

I've had the same problem on the same car. I let it go for a week or two and then one day the car was completely dead (no warning lights or anything, not even the beep when you have the key in and the door open) after I'd been driving it the same day. Push started it and 70 miles later my power steering went in the middle of a fast corner, as soon as I stopped the car it was dead again. I reckon its the Battery, I'm actually in the process of changing it right now! I recommend getting your Battery checked/changed now, cause if its like mine it could go at any time and its really crap ringing people for jump leads for an 02 Toyota. I had to jump it off an old Fiat Brava yesterday............

Reckon its the Battery too. As above best get it checked as it doesn't appear to be holding its charge.