disaster06

So, I had some issues where my car wasn't starting. Sounded like an issue with the starter, but I got a new battery (stupidly without bench testing it). So I took it to Toyota after buying a new interstate battery. They thought it might be the starter, so they ordered one and after 2-3 weeks, it finally came in. Toyota installed it under warranty thank God because it was 980.00. Just installed it today and it happened again.

Any ideas of what could make my car not start? it sometimes makes a clicking sound like the starter is trying to turn over, sometimes, no sound at all. The other things I can think of are either:

a) bad ground somewhere
b) relay?
c) fuse of some sort

either a fuse is on its way out, or my audi style DRL's have done something with their add-a-circuits :-(

LSBoogie

Single click or multiple clicks? Did they test for parasitic draw?

disaster06

I don't think they tested anything just guessed it was the starter after i told them it was a fresh battery. And it does do multiple clicks when it clicks at all. Sometimes no clicks and just the lights light up on the dash.

LSBoogie

I have found that most often multiple clicks denotes bad/dead battery. Single click will usually point to solenoid or starter. I would have the battery tested to make sure the new battery doesn't have a dead cell. If the battery tests good, have them run an alternator test and a parasitic draw test.

LSBoogie

Additional thought, make sure your battery cables are securly fastened to the battery and that the positive cable is not brittle with corrosion.

BeAlLsTaR13

if your car is still under warranty i'd just leave it there and let them figure it out

disaster06

Yea, I'll probably do that. Disconnected my drl's and checked all fuses. Nothing was bad and it still clicks. I guess I'll check to make sure all my grounds are good and then take it back to the dealership :-(

FreedomPenguin

Think they will give you any flack over your drl's?

disaster06

I don't think so. They moved my ground that I had made. I had it in a metal frame next to the fuse box, they cut that piece I had soldiered on and put a screw through, and wrapped the bare wire around the base of an earth( proper ground) screw.

I'm probably going to pull the wires just in case

LSBoogie

Update?

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

disaster06

Haha, found a loose ground cable from the engine.
Surprised toyota didn't check for those. Car has run fine since I tightened the cable

StatuSCheckA

iTrader: (1)

So you still have that brand new starter?
Were you without your car for some time? I would me mad if myself or the dealer did not see a loose ground.

disaster06

Yep, the brand new starter is in there. I would be mad, but they gave me a brand new Camry to drive, so it wasnt bad. Actually gave my back a rest from the coilovers I had before I got rid of them.