No starter operation engine is not turning over?

Tiny
RAYHARKLEROAD
  • MEMBER
  • 1993 TOYOTA CELICA
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • MANUAL
  • 136,000 MILES
In May I had the battery and alternator replaced on my 1993 Toyota Celica. Yesterday when I attempted to start the vehicle, nothing happened. No lights/no radio/no action. I did jumpt the vehicle and took it to a mechanic who confirmed that the battery and alternator were OK, and the car started immediately without a jump.
Today, same problem recurred. No lights/no radio/no action. Can't figure out why will run for the day but nothing on the day following. Battery is good, alternator is good. Can you suggest a solution?
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Saturday, September 19th, 2009 AT 2:03 PM

55 Replies

Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,815 POSTS
Hi RayHarkleroad,

Thank you for the donation.

Seems problem is with battery power. As the charging system and battery are confirmed to be working correctly and vehicle starts with a jump, I would suggest checking for power drain.

One of the components could be faulty causing the battery to be drained when left parked.

Most common would be the brake lights, a faulty switch would leave the lights on all the time.
Next would be relays. Sometimes relays tends to stick and this would cause the components concerned to be powered even when the ignition is turned OFF.
Other items to check would be accessories.

Get a power drain test to check if the battery is draining while parked.

These guides can help us fix it

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/starter-not-working-repair

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-battery-load-test

Please run down these guides and report back.
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Sunday, September 20th, 2009 AT 3:36 AM
Tiny
RAYHARKLEROAD
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There is no battery drain - both the battery and the alternator are doing fine. Problem is that when I put the key in the ignition and crank, nothing happens.

Once I have started the car using a jump, the "repair" is good for the day, but next morning, an attempt to start again is without success. There is no life - no lights on the dash, no cranking of the engine, absolutely nothing. A quick jump brings everything back to good and remains that way for the day, but a repeat of the problem occurs the following mornng.
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Sunday, September 20th, 2009 AT 7:33 AM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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There must be a battery drain somewhere to cause the battery to go flat.

Check the battery terminal connections to be sure they are providing the correct contact.
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Sunday, September 20th, 2009 AT 10:21 AM
Tiny
RAYHARKLEROAD
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The battery is NOT going flat! The battery and the alternator are fine. When parked overnight, the next morning when starting is attempted, nothing is happening. No lights/no crank/no nothing. The battery is testing fully charged, the alternator is putting out well, and when restart is attempted on the same day, nothing is a problem. Next morning though, nothing at all.
Battery cables are clean and well attached.
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Sunday, September 20th, 2009 AT 10:25 AM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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You mentioned a jump start works, if that is the case, how can the battery be fully charged?
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Sunday, September 20th, 2009 AT 10:41 AM
Tiny
RAYHARKLEROAD
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You are asking to evaluate but I am only stating the facts. Yes, the battery is fine and yes a jump works to get it started. I am trying to determine the problem and find a solution. These are facts.
The battery cables appear to have no problem (checked both by me and Sears), and if that is the case, what would cause this scenario?
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Sunday, September 20th, 2009 AT 10:47 AM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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If a jump start works, either the battery is bad or you have connections problems. I do not understand why you insist that the battery is fully charged.

What is the battery voltage when it does not crank?
After installation of the jump cables, does the dash indicators come on?
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Sunday, September 20th, 2009 AT 10:52 AM
Tiny
RAYHARKLEROAD
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The battery is fine and alternator output is fine as confirmed by testing at Sears. Do the dash lights come on when cables attached? Don't know that answer - simply did not observe when I jumped the vehicle.
The key was not in the on position when the cables were attached, and when I got into the car to start, it immediately cranked with the key. And as I said, once started, I had no further problem that day. The problem recurred the next morning, indicating no resolutin was found.
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Sunday, September 20th, 2009 AT 10:59 AM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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When there is a battery drain, it means the power from the battery has been drained off. After starting, the battery is recharged as the charging system and battery is good. When tests are made, this would show them to be good.

After parking overnight, if a component that is supposed to be OFF is working, it would be draining the battery and causing it to go flat. When you try to restart, you do not have power. Check the battery voltage when you could not start and not after running engine.
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Sunday, September 20th, 2009 AT 11:07 AM
Tiny
RAYHARKLEROAD
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Of course I have no means to check the battery in the morning as I lack any such test equipment. However, the likelyhood of my starting the car with a jump and fully recharging causes me doubt. The drive to Sears is less than 3 miles and less than 10 minutes.
I don't know that what you are suggesting so far is addressing the issue, but I can see if there is anything that might be draining the battery. The only thing that comes to mind is a roof light that has never worked well, and I did recently place a bulb in there even though it did not correct the roof light.
Any other suggestions?
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Sunday, September 20th, 2009 AT 11:52 AM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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For a battery that is drained and in good condition, it does not require a long time for it to be recharged. Without the ability to test the battery voltage, you have no means to understand the battery condition at that instant. When it works with a jumper, it definitely indicates a battery power problem.

Did you check if the dash indicator lights turns on when ignition key is turned to ON?
Are the headlights, horns and hazard lights working when you were not able to start?
If you have not removed the battery terminals, disconnect them and check for contaminations. Clean them if necessary.

Check the battery negative ground to body connections.

The non working roof light should not be the cause.

A stuck fan relay would cause the fans to remain on without stopping and it could be intermittent.
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Sunday, September 20th, 2009 AT 11:40 PM
Tiny
IAMHORRIBLEATWIRINGANDELECTRICALHELPME
  • MEMBER
  • 13 POSTS
  • 1993 TOYOTA CELICA
  • 200,000 MILES
Ok. Here goes.I posted up a question about a month ago and alas the car is still not working :) I definitely appreciated the answers and the input which is why im asking again.

My battery is fully charged.I had the car when it was running tested at autozone(the starter and ignition test) and the person who ran the test informed me that everything was working fine.

Several weeks later, my car just wouldn't start. My roomate suggested to try jumping it. So we did. And it started.

Several days later, the car was just dead again. I put the key in, all the dash lights come on, but as soon as I turn the key it just goes click, and all my dash lights go off, I lose all power.

So we tried to jump it again. We sat there for about a half hour letting the battery get a charge, thinking it was dead. Tried to start it and alls I was hearing was just a very fast clicking sound, like the car wanted to turn over but it just didnt have enough juice to do so.

For shits and giggles I had the battery tested again, battery was still good. My car has been sitting in the same parking spot at my apartment and im very scared some ass hat is gonna tow it but thats another matter.
I dont know what else to do.

I know there was an anti theft system in it when I purchased the car from some dude. That was causing the car to not start sometimes. But after I unplugged the anti theft, it ran fine for a while. Now something is just draining my power some where and I cant get it to start.

In the lower left hand kick panel, in the fuses, there is a square black plug which says relay on it. When I turn the key I would get like a clicking or a popping sound from it.

I know nothing about wiring.I've downloaded every wiring diagram on 93 celicas that I can get my hands on. Im also thinking maybe the ignition switch? But I think the bottom line is the person who installed the anti theft didnt know what the hell he was doing and seriously messed up my wiring.

Any ideas? Id appreciate some feed back. If you read through this whole thing? I appreciate it even more. Just trying to be as descriptive as I can

thanks again
mike
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Wednesday, December 30th, 2020 AT 5:36 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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When a jump start works, it means the starter is not getting the required capacity of power supplied.

With a good battery and the symptoms described, I believe you have a loose connections somewhere. Try cleaning the battery terminals and retighten them accordingly. Check for a bad ground cable to the transmission.

The next time this occurs, instead of a jump start, clamp a jumper cable to the negative terminal of the battery and clamp the other end to any part of the engine or transmission that can provide a good ground and try starting. If you are able to crank easily, that would mean a bad ground circuit connection between the battery and engine/transmission.
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Wednesday, December 30th, 2020 AT 5:36 PM (Merged)
Tiny
IAMHORRIBLEATWIRINGANDELECTRICALHELPME
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Thanks for the input. :) I believe im going to go attempt that now:)
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Wednesday, December 30th, 2020 AT 5:36 PM (Merged)
Tiny
IAMHORRIBLEATWIRINGANDELECTRICALHELPME
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If its a bad ground cable is it just one cable can I ask? Or is it a series of wires? Im horrible at electrical.
And is it also costly to fix?
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Wednesday, December 30th, 2020 AT 5:36 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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The main ground cable is only one, from battery negative terminal to the transmission. It has a branch that is bolted to inner side fender.

There are other ground circuits between the engine and firewall with another between the engine and inner fender at timing belt end.

If the wire is corroded, you would need to replace it and the wire should not cost too much. The junk yard should have plenty of them.
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Wednesday, December 30th, 2020 AT 5:36 PM (Merged)
Tiny
IAMHORRIBLEATWIRINGANDELECTRICALHELPME
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Hey back again :) I tried jumping it with one hooked up to the negative the other hooked to a spot on the engine. No start.
I removed the negative terminal cable, un bolted it. Im gonna try replacing it, hoping that works
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Wednesday, December 30th, 2020 AT 5:36 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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Have you tested the battery voltage?
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Wednesday, December 30th, 2020 AT 5:36 PM (Merged)
Tiny
IAMHORRIBLEATWIRINGANDELECTRICALHELPME
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Yeah battery voltage was in the optimal range
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Wednesday, December 30th, 2020 AT 5:36 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
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KHLow2008 IS PROBABLY RIGHT

IF THIS IS "SIDE POST".....DO YOU KNOW HOW TO REMOVE THE BOLT AND SLIDE THE RUBBER COVER DOWN THE CABLE IN ORDER TO CLEAN THE "LOLLIPOP" CONTACT PORTION REALLY GOOD AS WELL AS THE SIDE-POST LEAD PORTION OF THE BATTERY??????

I HAVEN'T DONE IT YET, BUT I WILL SOON MAKE PICS OF THE PROCESS....SORRY IT'S NOT BEEN DONE YET

HERE'S A LITTLE MOTIVATION

https://www.2carpros.com/questions/1996-chevrolet-tahoe-wont-start-sounds-dead-battery-jumpbox-get-same-reults

KEEP US UPDATED

THE MEDIC
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Wednesday, December 30th, 2020 AT 5:36 PM (Merged)

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