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Toyota Corolla Won’t Start (Do This to Start)

Your Toyota Corolla failing to start just as you’re heading out can completely ruin your day. Finding the root cause is crucial to fixing your car and getting on with your daily activities.

A Toyota Corolla may not start if the battery is dead. This is often indicated by a slow cranking engine or no response when the ignition key is turned. The solution is to jump-start the car or replace the battery if it’s beyond its service life.

Another reason for a Toyota Corolla not starting could be a faulty starter motor. If you hear a clicking sound when turning the key, but the engine doesn’t turn over, the starter motor may need to be replaced.

A hand on a Toyota car steering wheel

Lastly, a Corolla might fail to start if there’s an issue with the fuel system. A clogged fuel filter, a failed fuel pump, or problems with the fuel injectors can prevent the engine from receiving the necessary fuel to start. Diagnosing the fuel system, and repairing or replacing the faulty components, will typically resolve this issue.

The rest of the article will share with you the possible starting problems of your Toyota Corolla, their causes, and how to fix them.

Toyota Corolla Cranks but Won’t Start

Keys hanging in car ignition

You’re ready to go out, put your key in the ignition, and you hear the starter engage, but the car cranks a few times until it disengages the starter. There are a few possible causes you might want to check out and their solutions.

  • You’re out of fuel. Check your car’s fuel gauge, and if you identify this to be the cause, you might want to top up your fuel and try again.
  • Fuel pump malfunction. The fuel injector isn’t pumping enough fuel to the engine’s combustion chamber or is not injecting fuel at the right time. The fuel pump system parts that might be responsible include the fuel pump, injectors, filter, and lines.
  • Spark issues. Spark issues might also extend to other parts of the spark system, such as the plug gap, the distributor or module, and spark plug wires.

Toyota Corolla Won’t Start After Fueling

Female with a hand on a gas pump getting ready to fill car with gas

If your car refuses to start right after fueling, it might be due to purge valve leaks. Under normal conditions, when fueling your car, lots of fumes might form in the tank. These fumes typically go into the carbon canister till you put your car on a cruise. If the purge valve leaks, these fumes might fill the engine and intake, causing difficulty starting.

You might want to check and replace the purge valve if you identify it as the cause.

Toyota Corolla Won’t Start After Battery Change

A mechanic putting in a new car battery into engine bay

So, you’ve changed your car battery, and your Toyota Corolla has refused to start. If you’re sure that the new battery you’ve installed is in good condition, you might want to start by checking the connection. Confirm that you’ve connected the battery correctly before looking for other possible causes. If the problem persists, here are some other possible reasons to check:

  • Faulty alternator. The alternator is responsible for generating the electrical power and contributes to the charging system.
  • Faulty ignition switches and fuses. A defective ignition switch or a blown fuse might result in a hard start from your Toyota Corolla.
  • Damaged starter relay. The starter or ignition relay might also get damaged from a power surge from the new battery. You might need to take your car to the mechanic to diagnose and fix the ignition switch.

Toyota Corolla Security Light Flashing Car Won’t Start

Car dashboard lights

If your Toyota Corolla refuses to start, but the security or alarm lights are flashing, it might have to do with your alarm system malfunction. It could be because your alarm system doesn’t recognize you as the owner.

Consider disabling or resetting your car’s alarm system to fix the issue. The flashing lights might be due to the immobilizer. Your key fob could also be responsible, and you might fix it with a battery change or repair.

Toyota Corolla Won’t Start, but Battery Is Good

A man testing the car battery with a multimeter

If your Toyota Corolla refuses to start, one of the first points of action is checking on the battery. Try using a battery tester to confirm that your battery is in good condition.

After verifying your battery’s condition, check to see that all battery connections are intact, which could be the cause. The starter, spark plugs, and ignition switches might also be responsible.

Copyright protected article by Know My Auto and was first published on Feb 18, 2021. .

Toyota Corolla Won’t Start Clicking Sound / No Click

A hand turning the key in a car ignition

So, you put your key in the ignition, turn it on, and your car responds with repeated clicking sounds but still doesn’t start. In that case, this might give something to do with your battery. Use a battery tester to confirm that you still have a charge in your batteries and recharge it if it’s low. Corrosion of the battery terminals could interrupt the current flow, and you might want to clean up build-up.

If the batteries don’t seem to be the cause, another likely culprit is the alternator. The alternator is a crucial part of the electrical system and helps charge the batteries. Consider jump starting the car and taking it to your mechanic if you’re still having trouble fixing the problem.

Single clicks might be due to faulty high current contacts within the starter solenoid. You could try replacing the contacts, but replacing the starter assembly might be more manageable since they’re hard to find.

No clicking sounds might mean the problem could be from the fuse box. Consider checking for blown fuses or wiring.

Toyota Corolla Won’t Start When Hot

Man with both hands on the steering wheel driving

Check to ensure that you don’t have a fuel problem first before considering other causes. You might also want to eliminate the possibility of a spark plug being the cause.

The usual culprit is the coil or worn distributor bushing. You could take the distributor apart to replace the coil or change the distributor.

Toyota Corolla Won’t Start Oil Light On

Car engine oil light is on

The oil light typically indicates that your car is low on oil or a faulty oil pump. Running your car low on oil could damage the engine, so you want to make sure that your car’s oil level is okay and the pump is in good condition.

The oil pump typically connects to the crank, so if your car doesn’t run, there’s no pressure. Consider checking your Toyota Corolla battery and alternator as they could be why your car isn’t starting.

Toyota Corolla Won’t Start Sometimes

Man with road rage

Likely reasons why your Toyota Corolla doesn’t start sometimes include problems with the alternator, battery, starter, fuse, or your security system. You might want to systematically check through these possible causes as you work your way towards a solution.

Toyota Corolla Key Won’t Start the Car

Hand that is putting a key into car ignition

If your Toyota Corolla key won’t start your car, you might want to ensure that you’re using the right key for your vehicle. If you’re using the correct key, you might have locked steering. Consider turning your steering to the left and right with your key in the ignition to unlock the steering.

Your key might not work if your key is worn out or faulty ignition. You might want to visit a Toyota dealership if you’re still having trouble with your Toyota Corolla keys.

Toyota Corolla Won’t Crank

Car battery jump start

If your Toyota Corolla fails to crank, it’s usually an electrical fault. Start by checking on your battery and alternator. Clean out battery corrosion or jumpstart your low battery. Your Toyota Corolla’s starter engine or faulty ignition could be responsible. Jumpstarting your car could help with a defective ignition.

Toyota Corolla Starter Problems

Silhouette image of a car with repair tools

Starter problems on your Toyota Corolla might be responsible if your car engine cranks but fails to start. This problem becomes more prevalent in cars with more mileage, and you might need to replace the starter and solenoid. A mechanic visit to accurately diagnose and fix the issue might be best.

Toyota Corolla Cold Start Problem

Snow that has fallen on a car rear view mirro

Cold weather might be the time for sweaters and hot drinks, but it might also bring cold start problems for your Toyota Corolla.

Your battery capacity might diminish with time, and this could cause problems during cold months. When you use the wrong battery, your car might also have trouble starting in cold weather.

Condensation in your car tank could make its way to the fuel line and freeze. This blockage could cause difficulty starting. If you use heavier oils, it could also be a problem during colder months.

Toyota Corolla Starter Not Engaging

Testing the voltage of a car battery

If you try starting your car and you hear the starter spinning, but it fails to engage, it might be due to any of the following:

  • Low battery voltage
  • Starter solenoid malfunction
  • Faulty starter pinion or plunger
  • Faulty starter connection
  • Damaged gears or flywheel

Consider starting at the top of the list and eliminating possible causes as you seek a solution.

Toyota Corolla Starter Relay Problems

Car fuses

The starter relay sends an electrical current from the battery to the starter solenoid. While problems with this part are unlikely, they can occur and might present as:

  • Car won’t start
  • Starter persists after vehicle starts
  • Clicking sounds from the starter
  • Intermittent starting

Fortunately, you can get your mechanic to replace the starter relay if it’s causing trouble.

Toyota Corolla Having Trouble Starting

Car engine belt

Your Toyota Corolla might have trouble starting if the battery is low or the alternator is malfunctioning. You might also want to check for blown fuses and confirm that the starter and ignition switch is working correctly.

Toyota Corolla Starting Noise

Man working on car engine

Sometimes the noise your Toyota Corolla makes might be an indication of a problem. Clicking sounds typically indicate battery or alternator problems, which you can quickly verify and fix.

If you hear a grinding noise while trying to start the car, the problem is likely due to the starter or flywheel damage. It’s best to take your vehicle to a professional for examination.

Toyota Corolla Intermittent Starting Problem

The interior of a car engine bay

Intermittent starting problems on your Toyota Corolla might be due to a faulty plug on the ignition. This problem is relatively common for Toyota Corollas with some mileage. Other common causes of intermittent starting problems include a defective starter motor or starter relay problems. You should get your car checked, and you might need to replace the defective parts.

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