# 1998 Toyota Corolla starter problems

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-toyota-corolla-starter-problems/73980>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** corolla, toyota\
**Created:** [August 8, 2012, 5:06am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-toyota-corolla-starter-problems/73980 "2012-08-08T05:06:01Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![basketballplayer1989](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85e7bf/32.png) [@basketballplayer1989](https://community.cartalk.com/u/basketballplayer1989)\
**Post date:** [August 8, 2012, 5:06am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-toyota-corolla-starter-problems/73980/1 "2012-08-08T05:06:01Z")

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My brother Neumann has a 1998 Toyota Corolla and it starts completely fine for a stretch of 3-4 weeks, then unpredictably it will not start. When it doesn’t there is no turnover or clicking noise. I don’t hear anything. Weather doesn’t seem to affect it either way and putting it in different gears (neutral, reverse, etc.) or holding down brake/gas pedal does not help. Lights, dashboard elements and windows work, but no starting. Battery is okay. Any diagnosis?

–Your help is appreciated

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**Author:** ![RemcoW](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/remcow/32/2471_2.png) [@RemcoW](https://community.cartalk.com/u/RemcoW)\
**Post date:** [August 8, 2012, 6:00am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-toyota-corolla-starter-problems/73980/2 "2012-08-08T06:00:01Z")

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Check the battery connections first. Do you know how to use a voltmeter?

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**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\
**Post date:** [August 8, 2012, 7:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-toyota-corolla-starter-problems/73980/3 "2012-08-08T19:05:18Z")

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Check connections to the starter too.  
Starter switch is another possibility at this age. Try wiggling the key.

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**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\
**Post date:** [August 8, 2012, 7:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-toyota-corolla-starter-problems/73980/4 "2012-08-08T19:08:48Z")

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Once connections are confirmed good, I bet it’s the contacts in the starter’s solenoid. This is a common problem with Toyota starters, once they’re 10+ years old. Happened to mine. The dealer sells replacement contacts, they’re easy to replace once you have the starter out.