# '98 Toyota Corrolla won't start

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/98-toyota-corrolla-wont-start/41688>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** corolla, starters, ignition, start, engines, toyota\
**Created:** [January 2, 2010, 5:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/98-toyota-corrolla-wont-start/41688 "2010-01-02T17:37:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![James\_FS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/aeb1de/32.png) [@James\_FS](https://community.cartalk.com/u/James_FS)\
**Post date:** [January 2, 2010, 5:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/98-toyota-corrolla-wont-start/41688/1 "2010-01-02T17:37:32Z")

</div>

A few weeks ago, my Corrolla started having trouble starting. I would have to turn the key 4-5 times before the engine turned over. It didn’t seem like a battery problem because the lights on the dash would come on with the key in the ignition, and when the car finally did start, it would start up without a problem. The problem started as winter picked up steam, so I just figured it had something to do with the cold. (I know, I should have taken it in right away, hindsight is 20/20). So the last time I drove the car something new and terrible happened. When I turned the key to turn the car off, the engine didn’t stop. “Hmm,” I thought, “this can’t be good.” I turned the key off and on a few times and the engine finally shuddered to a stop. It didn’t sound good. Also I thought I noticed a faint electrical smell. Not good at all. This morning I tried turning the car on and I got nothing, no lights, no power door locks, nothing. Did the starter die? The ignition? It’s Saturday, and I’m taking the car in on Monday so I figured I’d get some brainstorming in before Monday morning. Thanks

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\
**Post date:** [January 2, 2010, 5:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/98-toyota-corrolla-wont-start/41688/2 "2010-01-02T17:40:24Z")

</div>

What you describe sounds like a bad ignition switch.

Tester