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My Toyota Starlet has got starting problem, initially I thought it was battery but I don't think its the battery. When switching on the ignition car would make a click sound and won't start up the engine, you've to do it at least 2/3 times before the engine starts up. Is it starter motor?
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sounds like the starter motor solonoid is sticking, if you get stuck put it in gear and rock the car it should free up and start, or tap it with a hammer!! i said tap not whack!! better still replace asap.. good luck..
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I agree with bigtee.
Also check the connections to it, particularly the smaller of the two live feeds. On some cars (older Cavaliers spring to mind) this problem is caused by nothing more than carp and dirt in the connectors.
Cheers
DP
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Thanks for you advice guys. Does anyone know where would I be able to buy a second hand or a re-conditioned one or if I can get it re-conditioned? I just called Toyota and they've quoted me almost £150! :(
Would I be able to fit one from 1.3 corolla of the same age? Mine's an R reg 97 1.3.
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The Corolla and Starlet 1.3 starter motors have the same part number according to japart.co.uk
I would try a breaker and take the old one with you. Do a side-by-side visual comparison - that's normally accurate enough.
Either that or try one of the online breakers search sites. They came up trumps for me and a few people I know on several occasions.
But check / clean the connections on the existing one first!
Cheers
DP
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Just thought of a question I should have asked before.
Do the warning lights on the dash dim when you turn the key and it clicks?
Cheers
DP
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I'd check the battery lead connections and follow them to the starter and gearbox, they need to be secure and clean. If there's any sign of corrosion disconnect the black battery lead first, then clean each of the other terminals, smear a little vaseline on them all to prevent further corrosion, before reconnecting the black lead again.
20 minutes and 2p worth of vaseline.
If any of the leads have poor conections the battery won't have been getting a full charge either, you may need to recharge it over night.
Black lead off first, on last ;-)
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To be honest a friend of mine asked me to check whether the lights dim but I couldn't notice much of a difference but while turning the ignition on the stereo display was going quite dim and yes it makes a loud click sound. After turning ignition on/off several times it starts up. Initially I thought it was battery and when I used to connect the battery with the booster I still had to turn ignition on/off few times before car would start up.
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You can connect 10 batteries, if the connections are'nt secure and clean the starter won't get the voltage / current it requires to turnover a cold engine on a cold day, choice is yours ;o)
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LoveMazda, this is a common problem that I had had on all my corolla's. Remove the starter motor from the car. Dismantled the starter motor soleniod switch. Inside you will see a copper disc about 50mm in diameter. On either side of the disc there will be an L shaped copper contact. When the ign switch is on the soleniod pulls the disc down to make a contact with the two L shaped copper contacts. You will notice when you look at the L shaped contacts that one is worn down more then the other.
You can buy these L Shaped copper contacts from an diesel specialist or a someone who refurbs starters and alternators. I purchased my for £2.00 each. If you get an second hand starter you will find the problems starts to happen about in a couple of years.
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My local car spares shop seems to know of local "reconditioners";why not try yours.
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I had a VW with starting problems-had to operate the key several times before the starter worked;turned out to be the contacts in the solenoid,pitted and deformed-cleaning and judicious tweaking cured it.
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Raman thanks for your advice mate, I think that's what I would do. We've got a guy who re-conditions the alternators where I live so I hope he'll have these L shaped copper contacts or would be able to tell me where I could buy them from.
Now I'm going to sound really thick but where's the starter motor in Starlet? Yesterday I spent quite a bit of time looking for one but I couldn't find it. I was thinking it'll be fitted on top of gearbox but I couldn't find anything. I didn't get underneath the car though.
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LoveMazda, sorry mate can't help you there. I owned only corolla's. But if you look carefully or get a Haynes workshop manual it should show you in there. Failing that telephone the Toyota Dealer. Good luck
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Raman thanks for your priceless advice mate. It took me and my brother almost half day to fix it but at the end we managed to do it ourselves. Removing the starter motor was the hardest part for us because for some strange reason Toyota has fixed it in such a horrible and hard to access place. Opened up the Starter Motor and it was the L shaped copper which had its time. Couldn't get a new one even though we went to a guy who reconditions starters/alternators (which was quite surprising) so at the end got hold of a second hand starter motor for £25 and then removed the better one from that one. Strange enough only one got screwed in both starter motors. Now starting is not a problem at all. Hard day of work (I work in IT so it was very hard for me) but at the end I saved £40 (for getting starter motor fixed) plus labour. Once again thanks guys and please keep up your good work.
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Just to let you know the type of starter fitted to the starlet ( & other jap vehicles ) is prone to the symptoms you describe . It's an issue with the solenoid !!!!! which is not noramlly sold as a seperate item !!!!
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Follow the thickest red wire from the battery and it will lead you to the starter. To be honest if you can't recognise a starter you should get someone to look at the car for you, you may do more harm than good (to both the car and your pocket) ;o)
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Don't know about Toyotas but both main leads on my battery- (+ & -) are black!!
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Only for so far along the one turns red. Look for a + on the battery, follow the lead until it turns red and leads you to the starter. Better?
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I would like to ask one more question. My car isn't running very smoothly. My dad has got the same model which is older than mine, they've got the same engine and mine has got almost full Toyota service history but still my dad's car runs like a dream, very smooth and its got good pick up for 1.3 engine. Mine on the other hand is slightly jerky. I just bought the car last week so the first thing I did was change the oil (10w-40) air and oil filter. I'm planning to change the spark plugs (won't be buying geniun Toyota ones though) on the weekend and would fill up the car and put in STP petrol treatment and then probably would take it on motorway for Italian tune up. Are there other things I should or could do to make the engine run smoothly?
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I would'nt use the petrol treatment, why dislodged all the crud thats safely attached to the tank and fuel lines and force it through the engine?
When was the fuel filter last changed?
When was the car last propperly serviced?
Just fill it up and drive it, the car could have been subject to lost of cold starts / short journeys. In a couple of thousands miles the car may drive very differently
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