HELP!!! No crank, No start, No click!

[Jack]

Hey everyone! I’m still on my journey on learning more about cars and my car (2000 Toyota Celica, manual shift) decides to give me a(n) (unwanted) lesson. My car had been having startup problems, so the first thing I did was get a brand new battery. It worked perfectly fine for 3 months.

It’s starting to warm up (not sure if that has anything to do with it) but within the recent month, my car has been having trouble with start up and crank. At times I would just hear a click from the starter, try it about 6 times, and it would eventually start up. About week ago it just stopped cranking, but i still would hear a click from the starter, but it would never start up, even after endless tries. My friend and I had to push-start my car and I drove it to my grandma’s house.

I checked my battery, I looked at the fuses, the relay and everything checked out fine. My positive battery post was in pretty bad shape, so I replaced it. I de-greased the engine (covering up the alternator of course). Checked and cleaned the grounds, everything is hooked up properly. So I suspected it was the starter. I took the starter out and it was in pretty bad shape, so I replaced it with a new one.

Now, I don’t even get the click from the starter. All I get is the small click from the starter relay. I’m pretty sure that I put everything back together correctly. I hand turned my crank shaft pulley to make sure my engine isn’t seized, and I can hand turn it, so it isn’t that. I think my ignition is fine because I can use all of my accessories when I turn it.

If you took the time to read this, THANK YOU!! Because I’m at about my wits end with this. If you have any suggestions or advice, PLEASE, let me know.

Thank you!

Topic

[Its me]

98% of the time on these Toyotas the condition you describe is an issue with the battery or connections. I would have the battery load tested and do a voltage drop test on the cables.

Good luck

Karl

[Jack]

Thank you! Yesterday I confirmed that there is a short at some point before the large circuit of the starter relay. I can start the car if I touch the wire on the positive terminal of the battery and the negative side of the starter relay.

I thought about just rigging a wire from the positive battery terminal to the positive side of the starter relay (to give me key ignition control), but I want to see if I can actually find the short and try to fix it before I do that.

So is there a spot on Toyotas where shorts usually happen? Is there a spot I should check first? Will I have to take off the fuse box in the process?

Thanks again

[Its me]

Usually the problems are in the connections on the battery. Ensure you check the negative ground cable. A voltage drop test will let you know if and where you have a cable/wire issue. Eric has a video on how to do a voltage drop test.

I would discourage you for rigging a wire. Things like engine fires can make things end badly.

Good luck!

-Karl

[Jack]

Thank you! I’m gonna do the voltage drop test

[Author]

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