2005 Toyota Corolla. Car won't turn over and start.
Asked by MJG257 Dec 06, 2019 at 08:41 PM about the 2005 Toyota Corolla CE
Question type: Maintenance & Repair
2005 Toyota Corolla. Car lights and radio work, battery has juice. I turn the
ignition and it does nothing. Any suggestions on what it could be? It has been
running beautifully until today.
3 Answers
ScubaCamper answered 4 years ago
Do the lights dim when you turn the key? Yes? Have your battery tested, it’s likely bad or has a very low charge (enough to power the various devices, but not enough to start the car). If the battery has a low charge, but you know it’s not defective or faulty, have your alternator tested. (The alternator charges the battery back up while you drive the car; if it isn’t working properly, your battery will eventually keep dying, despite being “jumped”). Another sign of a dying alternator is your battery light coming on while you’re driving, or the car suddenly losing power while driving). If you’re somewhat handy, try tapping on the starter a few times before attempting to start the motor. If the motor starts, you likely will need a new starter. Finally, if your car is turning over (cranking over and over) but never engaging (starting up), I would inspect the electrical parts such as the distributor or igniter, or similar. Good luck!
Check fuses and relays. When you put the car to the run position (one click before starting it) do you hear a prime? If not, could be a fuel pump. Maybe starter is bad. Does the car attempt to turn on or no noises are being made when you’re trying to turn over the engine?
The car lights are bright, the radio is loud, so I don't think it's the battery. There is no click when I turn the key. There's nothing. Thanks.