Need Help...02 wont crank over???

[Guest]

I drove the car to run some errands. My final stop was at the gas station. After a few minutes got back into the car and it will not crank over.

I have all lights on but when turning the key to crank the starter does nothing. I pushed it and popped the clutch in 1st and got it running to drive home. Will not start since then. 2 days ago.

I have since checked the battery...it's good.

Checked the starter..it's good...also swapped one over from a working car and nothing.

I also jumped a wire directly to the solenoid to + on the battery + and still the starter will not crank. (usually this will crank over the starter)

I checked with the key switched to cranking and the lead has a signal at the starter.

I added an additional ground strap to make sure it has solid ground.

Is there something else I'm missing here? Is there a short somewhere?

Please chime in with your assistance.

Thanks in advance!

[c.d.iesel]

that is a good one ?

if you really have checked 'everything'

as stated? what more could it be.

I'll guess it's still the "starter motor"

can't wait to hear the solution.

[eurotrash]

Sounds vaguely familiar Le..?? Tapping the starter solenoid got us going that day.

[rtheriaque]

How did you check the battery? You can have a good voltage reading without having enough cranking amperage.

[jrhone]

Hmm....Ignition switch bad? Happened in my Carrera once like that....Switch was fine for aux power but never went to "on" to start the car...you said you checked to see if it was getting power to the starter, but is it getting enough? Just a thought...maybe a little lock cleaner in the ignition to see if that frees up anything stuck in there? Just a guess...

[FunkyLaneO]

Try starting it with a set of jumper cables, a battery can show correct voltage and still be bad. If it starts, it is your battery.

[Jerzy]

When it needed a battery, I picked one up from the local Farm & Barn and tossed it in. The next morning she wouldn't start.

Fearing the worst I called a local independent shop, Toyota Specialists, begging for assistance. The owner said to remove the battery cables and clean up every contact point until it shined.

Never had trouble again.

The starter needs a lot of current. A thin layer of oxidation on a battery post or ground connection can block current but still present a voltage reading.

I hope your problem is as simple to solve.

[TJF]

You say you added an additional ground strap, but you didn't specify where. Did you connect this additional ground strap from the engine block to the battery or from the chassis to the battery?

There aren't too many choices here that can be at fault. Battery, starter, solenoid, switch. It sounds like to me the switch may be ruled out since it works in the run position and you tried to bypass it by going right to the soleniod.

If your additional ground strap was not to the engine block I would check the engine side of the engine ground connection.

[Guest Anonymous]

get in the car

turn the key on

have a buddy push it, once you start going pretty good

shift into 2nd (compression start)

if it starts up and goes at least you can isolate your problem to the starter..

This happened to me March 2010, I ended up replacing the starter after parking on a slight decline for a solid week, everyone of those days I had to self push..

Good luck

ira