6G Celicas Forums

When i try to start my '94 ceilca i just get a click every time i try. I think this is the solenoid. or the relay. I'm just not sure where either of these are located in the engine bay. If someone could kindly post a pic or a good description I would appreciate it very much

Thanks

Im thinking its your starter bro. if you have a st the starter is attatch to the motor between it and the firewall. its cylinder shaped and should have 2 screws. PITA to get to, but that should be it. best way to see it is open your engine bay, stand by the passenger side tire and look down behind the motor or get under it and look behind the block.

Yup, its your starter. Had the same issue about 50k miles ago. The second time it would start, took it to toyota (dumbass move) it never had an issue starting for them. Got it back, had issues for me, so I replaced the starter with one from Autozone.

is it an ST or a GT

Check your battery first.
If your battery doesn't have enough juice, it will cause starter to "click"

x2 had this issue right after my swap. My car sat so long the battery died.

If all your dash lights come on and the radio works and everything, I'm with the others, it's probably your starter. If nothing comes on at all, then ya gotta dead battery; make sure your alternator is still good once you get your battery charged or else you'll just kill another battery. I think Autozone can even check to see if your alternator has a good charge. A lot of places will check it for free though.

Where are you located? I got a new starter put in my ST right when I bought it, cost me $135 out the door which is pretty good considering the part is around $100.

Even you have enough power to power up everything in your car, it might not be enough to crank the engine.
This happened to my other car.
Fast clicking is a result of a low voltage at the starter motor/solenoid
Try jump starting and see if the clicking goes away.
Or Bring the battery to Autozone for free diagnosis.
If everything else is good, try tapping on the starter.

The car is an ST. It only clicks one time when i hold the key in the start possition. If I "pump" the key it will one time for every pump and occasionally turn over the engine. I'll put a good charge on the bat and see what happens.

Thanks a million for the help guys.

SIUformula

Have you had any luck with that?

i have the same problem with my car, just one click per key turn, hear the fuel pump buzzing, everything turns on,. I'm stuck, and i hate it.

- i just replaced the starter (maybe another bad starter?)
- I've checked the voltage on the battery, it's at 12.5volts
- i can push start it

- checked fuses also.

sounds like you'll need a helper to diagnose this one. have someone probe the wires to the starter to make sure its getting voltage when you turn the key. it could be a bad ignition switch if jiggling and wiggling makes it work. if the solenoid is getting power but the starter motor isnt then its the solenoid contacts for sure.

the solenoid is getting power. 12v yet the motor wasn't. thanks bitter!

why do people choice the more expensive moves first rather than the simple ones?

battery and fuses... x3

bang on it with a rubber malet

the problem wasn't with the battery, i followed the wire from the positive terminal and from the starter motor where I found a break in the wire.

you can imagine the frustration.

How old is your battery?
A simple voltmeter will NOT tell you if the battery has enough juice to turn on the starter.
You have to test it under load using a real testing equipment.
You can bring it to Autozone or any local part stores for a free test.

If it's tested out OK, then I would check the starter.
Always start from the simple thing first.

This post has been edited by Gary: Jan 2, 2008 - 4:46 AM

im going to say your solenoid contacts.. theres a lil plunger that comes down on 2 half circle metal pieces, over time the pieces start to break.. if you hit the key and get one click and nothing else then thats most likely the plunger coming down and hitting but not making a good enough contact to turn over the engine, keey turning the key and eventually it will. less than $10 in parts for a new plunger and contacts, and the whole job should be able to be completed in about an hour. all of this is located on the back side of the engine, as matt said, you just stand on the passenger side and look down between your intake and the block on the back of the engine where it meets the trans and you should see it.. flex joints and extensions make the job alot easier

but as gary said, take advantage of the free diagnosis that some stores offer, but thats my diagnosis

OMG! i thought i was the only one with this problem!! one day as i was driving home from work, pitch dark outside, when i would hit my turn signal all my lights would dim on each blink. It was cold so i figured that was all. when i got on the freeway going about 70, hit the turn signal and BOOM! the engine completly shut OFF! i quickly pulled in the emergency lane, and once i stopped, it automaticaly started back up, strange. ever since then i have the EXACT same problem!! i replaced the battery thinking that was it...works FLAWLESSLY! for about a week, then same problem!! for a while i was thinking solenoid/starter, but i believe what it is is battery TERMINALS/WIRES i think the wires need replacing, which i belive someone said theirs was cracked and needed replacing so try that...i will as soon as i get back to my car... hope my scary story helped

^^^ alternator?

id test that...