Car won't start unless jumped. Good battery and alternator.
Asked by Darren Jun 13, 2018 at 09:27 PM about the 2000 Toyota Corolla VE
Question type: Maintenance & Repair
I drive a 2000 Toyota Corolla. I started it one day
and drove to work fine and parked it. Maybe about
a 2 mile drive. However, when I got off and tried to
start it to go home, it just made a clicking noise. So
I called my dad to come jump it and it started so I
figured it was the alternator not charging the
battery while it's driving. So, I went a got a new
one. Put it on and jumped it off. I let it run for about
30 minutes and turned it off. I tried to start it again
to see if the battery was charged and it's still
clicking. So then I got a battery out of a same
model vehicle I own that I know would hold the
charge and put it in. Tried to start it, nothing. Just
more clicking. Wtf is wrong with this car y'all?
23 Answers
Did you put a OEM alternator in? If not that's part of the issue,aftermarket alternators in Asian automobiles will back feed causing the charging system not to work.
firebird338 answered 5 years ago
Put in battery with a little bit more cranking amps
Common Starter problem with this car. I would replace the copper contacts and plunger inside the starter. It's better to fix the OEM one (and cheaper) than to replace with an aftermarket one. Check this link: http://antares.co.nf/toyota-corolla/starter/
It's not the starter because it starts perfectly when I jump start it. And it's not the alternator either because the one on it has tested good.
Cjsras, the alternator I have on it is original. It is not aftermarket.
So you never replaced the alternator? and if you jump it,it will start?you put a different battery in it (not new) and it won't start with that either. Is all this correct?
I got the alternator from a parts car that I own. Battery too. The battery is still under warranty so I can always go get a new one if that's the case. But yes it will only start when jumped.
Thank you,Yes,please put in a new battery.That is were you need to start.
I will be back later with an update. We'll go from there.
Cjsras, I didn't get a new battery. However, I was able to get it to start a few times. And then it stopped turning. When I turn the key it'll either do nothing, click once, or click repeatedly until I stopped turning the key. Won't start again unless jumped. Any ideas?
It sure sound like low battery voltage along with a bad connection at battery,starter or ground.If it was a ignition switch issue you wouldn't have power to have a click. Diffidently check all connections for tightness or corrosion.
If all connections look good then yes, replace starter or you can buy a plunger kit from Toyota for $10.00 or so.
The connections should be good. I completely redid the positive terminal as the people it was bought from had 2 wires tucked under a clamp on the terminal. I also check the connections on the starter and they seem to be good. I also tapped it with a hammer a couple times.
I seem to have figured it out. It was having bad connection and it lost it, resetting the brain. So I plugged it in all good and tight and drove the hell out of it to give the brain time to relearn.
musab_0102 answered 5 years ago
just reuse the alternator by removing the cutout (alternator rectifier) http://www.discountstarterandalternator.com/p/new-alternator-rectifier-fits-toyota-corolla-1- 8l-2-4l-2009-2010-2011-2012-2013/ your main alternator is soldered and this should be removed by soldering iron and refix with the new onw
I cannot believe every answer I read on this condition trying swapping out Parts you start by diagnosing with proper tools a cheap $5 voltmeter. But just from reading the problem it was obvious it was a connection because when the jumper cables were connected to the battery terminals the Jaws grabbing the outside of the terminals the car started. That tells you the connector on the inside portion which goes to the dead battery or dead car was not making a good connection clean and simple.
