car won't start

[fire400]

had corrosion on it a few months back, just poured soda on it for it to go away. had cases where the car struggled and needed to be pumped up on the gas to get it started a few times.

before I make the decision to get a new car, I want to make sure this car works when I give it away. besides I'm currently using this car to travel and get to work anyway.

I can hear the motor trying to spin, but it sounds like the battery doesn't have enough juice in it to power the vehicle.

any suggestion on alternatives?

 

[iamaelephant]

So it's turning over but not firing? Not the battery.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: iamaelephant
So it's turning over but not firing? Not the battery.

No, from how it sounds (and the fact that he's had previous corrosion on the terminals), I'm guessing that a new battery and scraping the old terminals will fix it.

If it turns over easily for five seconds or so but doesn't ever catch, THEN you know it's not the battery.

 

[Cdubneeddeal]

What kind of vehicle is it? When you pump the gas to start the car, is that cold or hot start? If cold, check your cold start valve if equipped. May also be your pre-fuel pump if equipped as well. Could also be your coil.

Originally posted by: iamaelephant
So it's turning over but not firing? Not the battery.

That's not always the case. It may not have enough cranking power to turn the starter enough as he said in his post.

 

[fire400]

It's a 95 Corolla by the way.

Jumped the car two or three times.

Changed the battery.

Yes, the ignition gives up sound but it squeels and the motor won't rev up.

Used WD40 to put away corrosion around battery and various parts.

Checked spark plugs, they seem to be pretty clean.

I know for sure it's not the battery now.

Probably going to have to pull out the starter and inspect it, and perhaps install a new starter. Will have to maybe look at the alternator to see if any energy applied is actually going through?

Yep, I'm guessing the fuel lines equiped to the starter or the starter itself isn't working right. I got into a car accident lately and had the car repaired at a collision center where most of the damage was done at the front but not enough to have damaged the radiator parts or coolant mechanisms. So possibly some very loose wiring?

Any other suggestions?

 

[iRONic]

Starter's going.

 

[fire400]

anyone else?

 

[thomsbrain]

if the car is cranking hard now, but just not catching and running, it's not your starter, so don't bother with that. at this point, you don't have gas or you don't have spark.

 

[Cdubneeddeal]

Check your grounds. Check for loose wiring around your sensors. Check your dizzy. Check your coil. Check your plugs. Check your fuel injectors. Check your fuel pump(s). Get a good repair manual.

 

[Overgloc]

Alternator??

 

[herrjimbo]

my guess would be timing belt. how many miles on the beast?

 

[jlee]

Originally posted by: fire400
It's a 95 Corolla by the way.

Jumped the car two or three times.

Changed the battery.

Yes, the ignition gives up sound but it squeels and the motor won't rev up.

Used WD40 to put away corrosion around battery and various parts.

Checked spark plugs, they seem to be pretty clean.

I know for sure it's not the battery now.

Probably going to have to pull out the starter and inspect it, and perhaps install a new starter. Will have to maybe look at the alternator to see if any energy applied is actually going through?

Yep, I'm guessing the fuel lines equiped to the starter or the starter itself isn't working right. I got into a car accident lately and had the car repaired at a collision center where most of the damage was done at the front but not enough to have damaged the radiator parts or coolant mechanisms. So possibly some very loose wiring?

Any other suggestions?

There are no fuel lines to the starter..

Pull the starter & bring it to an autoparts store - they can put it on a machine and test it.

Originally posted by: Overgloc
Alternator??

No. With a full charge, you can run for a short while with a bad alternator.

 

[vegetation]

It's not the starter, don't waste time on it! I'm guessing something along the fuel path. Bad fuel pump, injectors, or fuel regulator.

 

[jlee]

Originally posted by: vegetation
It's not the starter, don't waste time on it! I'm guessing something along the fuel path. Bad fuel pump, injectors, or fuel regulator.

Yes, the ignition gives up sound but it squeels and the motor won't rev up.

..not the starter? Sounds to me like the starter is spinning up but the gear isn't kicking out to the flywheel.

 

[fire400]

Originally posted by: fire400
It's a 95 Corolla by the way.

Jumped the car two or three times.

Changed the battery.

Yes, the ignition gives up sound but it squeels and the motor won't rev up.

Used WD40 to put away corrosion around battery and various parts.

Checked spark plugs, they seem to be pretty clean.

I know for sure it's not the battery now.

Probably going to have to pull out the starter and inspect it, and perhaps install a new starter. Will have to maybe look at the alternator to see if any energy applied is actually going through?

Yep, I'm guessing the fuel lines equiped to the starter or the starter itself isn't working right. I got into a car accident lately and had the car repaired at a collision center where most of the damage was done at the front but not enough to have damaged the radiator parts or coolant mechanisms. So possibly some very loose wiring?

Any other suggestions?

Alright, checked the fuel lines and the pumps 'n stuff, the fuel is doing it's job.

It's not the starter, confirmed, 'cuz it's spinning right way, all the way.

Next plan of action:

1. I'm going to change all the fuses, because I heard that even "one blown fuse" can cause the car to not full function to it's capacity to even have a successful start.

2. Attempt to look more into the spark plugs.

3. Inspect the feul injectors a little bit more.

--- yeah I don't know if there is really a good spark coming out.

this is becoming intense...

 

[iamaelephant]

Take it to a mechanic, you clearly do not have the knowledge or skills to fix the car yourself. Save yourself a lot of trouble and pay someone to fix it.

 

[imported_Scourge]

Originally posted by: iamaelephant
Take it to a mechanic, you clearly do not have the knowledge or skills to fix the car yourself. Save yourself a lot of trouble and pay someone to fix it.

... Yeah, he doesn't want to rebuild the engine in his driveway, but there isn't anything wrong with looking it over yourself thoroughly before paying for someone else to do it for you.

 

[fire400]

Originally posted by: Scourge

Originally posted by: iamaelephant
Take it to a mechanic, you clearly do not have the knowledge or skills to fix the car yourself. Save yourself a lot of trouble and pay someone to fix it.

... Yeah, he doesn't want to rebuild the engine in his driveway, but there isn't anything wrong with looking it over yourself thoroughly before paying for someone else to do it for you.

I got roadside assistance. They probably won't pay for a tow, but Tiresplus is only like 4 blocks away on neighborhood roads. Should I pay for the tow, or should I push it there?

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: Scourge

Originally posted by: iamaelephant
Take it to a mechanic, you clearly do not have the knowledge or skills to fix the car yourself. Save yourself a lot of trouble and pay someone to fix it.

... Yeah, he doesn't want to rebuild the engine in his driveway, but there isn't anything wrong with looking it over yourself thoroughly before paying for someone else to do it for you.

That presumes that the OP has enough knowlegdge or experience to know what he's even looking at or for...

Let's back-track...does the car start with a jump? You've given several different symptoms. IF the car turns over but doesn't start, that eliminates the battery and starter. (presuming that it turns over enough to actually start the car) That leaves fuel and spark as the next things to check. You say the fuel pump is doing it's job. How do you know? just pull a line and see fuel squirting? MAY not be getting enough to actually run the engine. Bad fuel pump or plugged filter could be the cause of that.
GOOD fuel pressure? then maybe not a good spark. Could be distributor, coil, computer, bad grounds, many different things.
How long ago were you in the accident? Often, an accident will kill a battery. Something about knocking the sediment loose in the battery, which causes problems with the plates inside. I've had it happen twice...minor accident...otherwise good battery craps out within a couple of weeks...There could also be any number of things wrong that weren't caught by the body shop, and if it's been very long after the accident, you may not be able to get it covered by your insurance, BUT, if it looks like it was caused by the accident, talk to your insurance agent.

 

[fire400]

Originally posted by: BoomerD

Originally posted by: Scourge

Originally posted by: iamaelephant
Take it to a mechanic, you clearly do not have the knowledge or skills to fix the car yourself. Save yourself a lot of trouble and pay someone to fix it.

... Yeah, he doesn't want to rebuild the engine in his driveway, but there isn't anything wrong with looking it over yourself thoroughly before paying for someone else to do it for you.

That presumes that the OP has enough knowlegdge or experience to know what he's even looking at or for...

Let's back-track...does the car start with a jump? You've given several different symptoms. IF the car turns over but doesn't start, that eliminates the battery and starter. (presuming that it turns over enough to actually start the car) That leaves fuel and spark as the next things to check. You say the fuel pump is doing it's job. How do you know? just pull a line and see fuel squirting? MAY not be getting enough to actually run the engine. Bad fuel pump or plugged filter could be the cause of that.
GOOD fuel pressure? then maybe not a good spark. Could be distributor, coil, computer, bad grounds, many different things.
How long ago were you in the accident? Often, an accident will kill a battery. Something about knocking the sediment loose in the battery, which causes problems with the plates inside. I've had it happen twice...minor accident...otherwise good battery craps out within a couple of weeks...There could also be any number of things wrong that weren't caught by the body shop, and if it's been very long after the accident, you may not be able to get it covered by your insurance, BUT, if it looks like it was caused by the accident, talk to your insurance agent.

for anyone who wanted to know. alright, so maybe I was wrong, here's what happened!

-timing belt was terrible, it would try to spin, but it was broken, too many cracks.
-water pump, busted, leaked fluid and rusted the timing belt.

never take this to the shop, have someone do it for you, it will be cheaper. thanks everyone cya

p.s. yeah, check the car and have some friends look at it before you finally take it to the shop, it's very expensive.