Starting Problem

[corolla1.4vvti51plate]

im new on this forum although Ive had a toyota in some shape of form for the last 15 years as they are so reliable.

My problem today is that my 51 plate 1.4 corolla vvti didnt start this morning.

All it did was click and the more I tried the weaker the clicks became.

So a friend tried to jump start mine ( diesel so big battery) , but no joy.

He thinks its an alternator problem.

Any ideas please? Many thanks

[T600]

If it was just an alternator problem then you should have been able to jump start it without problems assuming that the starter leads you had were OK etc.

Did the engine turn over at all during the jump start?

If not then the problem will be in the solenoid, starter contacts, starter motor area.

If it did turn over then probably fuel or ignition problem. How was it running the last time you used it?

[farhanali89]

I had the same problem on a 05 corolla !!! and it was a Battery fault!!! i tried giving mine a jump start aswell same problem click click click click click dies dies dies....useless it wont jump start. rac stood there a while jump starting jump leads arent the best source all the time either.

I can almost guarentee its a faulty Battery mine was.

went into toyota and bought a new Battery for £40 job done no problems after.

It wont be your alternator i knw what you mean by the clicks its definitely the battery mine would die aswell out of the blue.

just get it changed and you should be fine.

[farhanali89]

the clicks i can understand as i had the same they become feinter each time you try starting it, also your headlights will dim slowly, your central locking wont work slowly and your windows if they are electric will go slower going up and down. Its the Battery dieing, I understand its not a old Battery and hard to beleive but i had the same thing your explaining and it was the Battery, I was stunned as my car is 2005 batterys should last much longer but it didnt.

[corolla1.4vvti51plate]

thanks all so far. the engine did does not turn over with or without the jump start, I have had problems with this Battery before but has always started with a jump previously so was strange when it did not respond this time. also another weird aspect is that all the when i try and start and the clicking noise happens all the needles on the dials go crazy ie jump all the way to the top and back !

[T600]

The click is the solenoid or starter contacts engaging. That's like a big relay which is probably integrated into the starter motor in your car.

When you turn the key you send a low current signal to that relay to tell it to turn on the very high current supply to the starter motor. At that point your starter is getting power and should turn the engine. The fact that it doesn't suggests that either the relay contacts are worn out, or there isn't enough power available, or else something in the starter or the engine itself is refusing to turn. If you had the right equipment when you attempted the jump start then you eliminated the power problem I would think.

It would be interesting to see whether you could bump start the car - if you can then you've isolated the problem to the starter motor area - either the solenoid / stater contacts or the starter motor itself.

You're probably best calling out an auto-electrician or mechanic who can diagnose the fault properly and replace the appropriate bits. You can get the bits to refurb your contacts / motor from Mr T, or else get an exchange starter motor.

HTH.

[fatboyr]

The click is the solenoid or starter contacts engaging. That's like a big relay which is probably integrated into the starter motor in your car.

When you turn the key you send a low current signal to that relay to tell it to turn on the very high current supply to the starter motor. At that point your starter is getting power and should turn the engine. The fact that it doesn't suggests that either the relay contacts are worn out, or there isn't enough power available, or else something in the starter or the engine itself is refusing to turn. If you had the right equipment when you attempted the jump start then you eliminated the power problem I would think.

It would be interesting to see whether you could bump start the car - if you can then you've isolated the problem to the starter motor area - either the solenoid / stater contacts or the starter motor itself.

You're probably best calling out an auto-electrician or mechanic who can diagnose the fault properly and replace the appropriate bits. You can get the bits to refurb your contacts / motor from Mr T, or else get an exchange starter motor.

HTH.

try removing the plastic cap on the Battery, mine was due to a poor connection which makes it cannot start, when i turn the keys, a click then just heard v-v-v- noise and the pointers jumped to the another end, after certain time the pointers get back to zero but still didn't work. luckily I managed to call AA for help

[corolla1.4vvti51plate]

thanks everyone for advice

it was the Battery in the end. new set of jump leads and proper connection did it. Cheers.