okay, i bought an 04 toyota corolla, it has its 50K miles on it and ive been driving it now for about 5 days. yesterday when i got off from work, the car WOULD NOT turn on. i have no idea why. it had the malfunction indicator lamp icon turned on and the engine oil icon on, and then after 2 more tries, it turned on. and last night it wouldnt turn on again. and the second try it wouldnt even make a noise. im telling my father this and he says "you have to pump some gas" (press the accelerator) while turning it on. i believe i shouldnt!!!! for the past days ive NEVER had to do that, so why now? and my car isnt old? so what the hell?? help!! is it the engine? it needs an oil change or what the hell????
2007-08-29 03:10:51 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
OK, First take a deep breath, cause it sounds like your gonna hyper ventilate if you don't.
Second, your problem doesn't sound to bad from the symptoms you describe.
If it won't start, you problem could possibly be, the battery, starter, starter solenoid, starter relay, ignition switch, or alternator.
You shouldn't ever have to pump the gas to get a fuel injected car to start. He's thinking of the old carburated engines.
What I recommend, take it by a certified shop and have them take a look at it. If your not comfortable, take your dad with you. They should find the problem fairly easily.
I would like to give you more information, but it's difficult with the lack of detail to your symptoms or more information.
Anyways, good luck and I hope this helps!
2007-08-29 03:43:54 · answer #1 · answered by michael081278 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Check the battery for distilled water. Do a voltage test with a small hand held volt meter set at 20 volts. With the engine off the battery should read 12.5 volts. With the motor running Toyota alternators produce an excess of 14.0 volts. If your alternator is working properly according to "their" idiot specifications it should read between 14.3 - 14.5 volts.
Try charging the battery with an automatic battery charger set at 2 amps for at least 4 hours. Check the voltage again with the volt meter with the charger dis-connected. You should see 12.5 volts.
As far as your alternator 14.3 - 14.5 volts is too darn much voltage charge back. I learned these facts on my own 94 Camry. The frigging battery was down a pint of distilled water. It took it to the Toyota dealer and they assured me that this was the normal charge back rate.
If you do require a new battery be sure it is not sealed on top so that you can check the water at least yearly. If the alternator is bad do not let Toyota put a new one on unless you have a warranty which will cover it. They'll charge you well over $600.00 for a factory fresh one. You can buy a re-manufactured AC-Delco for $200.00. Any auto parts store can hook uou up wit one for less than that. Be sure howervr to get one with the best warranty possible.
You should absolutely not have to pump the gas petal to start your fuel injected car.
2007-08-29 04:18:47 · answer #2 · answered by Country Boy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Judging by the age of the car and the symptoms you describe you may simply need a new battery or at the very least a battery check up and service. Original equipment batteries last about 3-5 years depending on a lot of variables. If you live where the weather is extremely hot or cold then three years is the norm. Anyway have it checked out.
2007-08-29 03:21:13 · answer #3 · answered by yes_its_me 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There could be several reasons for this malfunction. ll list some but you should have it checked out by a professional. The car could be miss firing. It could have a bad distrubutor coil. The fuel pump could be faulty. The Ignition switch could be faulty. The ECU could be faulty. Your Spark plugs may be fouled. I really think it has something to do with spark and ignition not gas. I hope this helped
2007-08-29 03:24:11 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
First thing to do: go back to the seller and complain about it. They may know about the issue.
Second: If you can not get help from the seller at all, then go to a reputable shop in your area (AAA Aproved Repair Shop).
This vehicle is fuel injected and pumping the gas pedal is not help. Used to be true for vehicles with carburators.
2007-08-29 03:40:53 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
since you said it would not make a noise that means you need a new fuel pump it could be starter motor it could be solenoid it could be ignition and it could be battery the solenoid is the first thing you find when you follow the red wire from your battery and the ignition is at the key port but in the engine bay
2007-08-29 05:41:50 · answer #6 · answered by 1999 Nissan Skyline GTR Vspec 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It could be a number of things---check you battery to see if there is corrosion on the post, are the cables tight and in good shape, bad starter/alternator/fuel pump fuses/relays, check you fuel/air filter and etc.
2007-08-29 03:23:18 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a more sportier car, because of that, he will not be comfortable in it as you would a larger, 4 door car for instance. That car is meant for roads only, kinda not a smart move taking it off of that. If he wanted something that would've been more all-terrain he should've aimed for something bigger, more jeep-ish
2016-05-21 00:04:20 · answer #8 · answered by erna 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
tell dad that the press the accelerator went out with the carburetor in the 1980s... drive it to advance auto for free check of starter/battery/alternator....
2007-08-29 03:50:12 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
you have a fuel injected engine... no need to pump the gas pedal.
try a new battery or clean/tighten the battery cables/terminals
2007-08-29 03:25:45 · answer #10 · answered by michael_oxgood 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋