Wondering if you notice my post saying the spark plug was not screwed on!
Wondering if the car could have still run without throwing a CEL - which it did!
Anyone has a good video on replacing the boots specific to this Denso/Corolla 2009?
I checked Youtube:
- some have tapering springs - but in my case, photo of the spring looks symmetrical
- one in the video talked about aligning with a vent hole - so I am cautious about these nuances
- another talks about di-electric grease - world seems to have moved away from manual application of grease!
I could not find the manual online for DENSO 671-4318
Thank you
Is this what you want?
Denso replied me:
- apply di-electric to the internal insulator tube and spark plug terminal.
Beyond that there is no orientation my case.
The dielectric grease is to lock out moister and to keep the boots from sticking to the spark plugs down the road the next time you go to remove the COP’s…
This is what can/will happen if you don’t use dielectric grease inside the tips of the boots… PITA!!!
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June 10th:
While the car runs much smoother with the new sparks, car didn’t start the 1st time today around 5pm - it was driven from 9am. It started the 2nd time without jump start or pressing the gas pedal - well it started on its own.
What things that I should focus on in troubleshooting the issue!
Measuring fuel pressure? But will it be conclusive on an intermittent issue?
When it happened the 2nd time on Sat, we tried about 6 times before jump starting it.
Update: June 11th
Happened again in the early morning. Several attempts and pressing the gas pedal didn’t go anywhere.
Tried again after 5mins and it started. I am a bit clueless. Battery passes the test but its about 4yrs old. If it were Honda, I would have gone for the Fuel Injectors.
I got flagged to reminding responders of this.
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- No CEL. Once started car drives smooth. If the fuel pressure issue, it should have stalled or triggered CEL - pls correct me if I am wrong?
- it cranks and battery voltage is 11.23V - another time it went to 10.5v. Either case, jump start worked. Does this mean starter motor is drawing more current and causing the issue?
- Other thoughts: Crank/cam sensor - may not trigger CEL
My trusty m/c told me he is closed for rest of the week. There are so many shops but with bad reviews or too busy to take the car in. Intermittent issue is hard!
Nice video but again mine is intermittent:
https://youtu.be/-sLFNi1drc4
Is as measured while cranking?? or after cranking has stopped and you go out and check B volts??
Measure your voltage before cranking > during cranking > after cranking, and report back to us… I am curious what it is when it does not start only…
Also with a fully charged battery, turn in your head lights for 10-15 minutes (key off) and after the 10-15 minutes is up, check volts and see if it will start… You should be able to leave your lights on for about 30 minutes and the vehicle still start… Or use a battery load tester for this… These new fancy testers don’t always catch a bad/failing battery…
I measured before cranking, during cranking but never right after. Before cranking mostly 12.56. During it was 11.23v and another time 10.5v.
After several cranking it was 12.44V (this could be after cranking that you were asking - but not right after).
I will give it a try on manual load test of the battery.
I did 2 measurement 30mins after an 80mile drive.
Engine is off: 12.78v
Engine is running: 13.78v
Turn off the engine: voltage was slowly dropping - I measured just over 13v. I did not hold long enough for it to come down to 12.78v
Update:
After over night cooling, its 12.67v
Issues:
May 11 after a car wash - batt voltage was little low - jump started
June 7th after BFluid flush at a shop - we drove off from shop fine but happened at the next stop - voltages were fine - cranking v was 11v.- jump started after several tries. Later one spark was found lose. All sparks replaced with Denso
June 10th - 5pm - minor issue - started on the 2nd try - no jump start
June 11th - 9am - multiple tries - paused for 5mins and it started - - no jump start
No DTC, no CEL
Load test: 14 or 15mins of head light on. Turned it off and car started fine.
4yr old battery
Pending repair: Serpentine belt as it slips when starting, occassionally
So what product/brand Starter Motor should I get?
I was also looking at RockAuto and O’Reilly/Napa (doing 20% off)? Amz has one for $60!
Appreciate your tips. Thank you
Twice it made a eerie sound while starting - 2nd time happened in front the mechanic. He rushed to me and told me its the starter. So seems case is closed - its the starter motor!
Install a Denso starter.
That’s what came in the car originally.
Tester
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Rock auto has Reman - is that good enough?
Thank you @Tester
I don’t know who remanned the starter. So I can’t say.
Tester
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You just needed someone with good hearing to tell you the starter is failing.
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Contrary to that Experience is all that required.
I ignored it the 1st time because of existing belt slipping sound I hear though it was different and longer duration. I only had to change Starter on a 25yr old Honda despite I had 5 Hondas - 2 of which had over 150k miles.
Almighty reliable Toyota Corolla has some weak points as I realize - all three below affected me in a short 18months 20k miles usage:
- Starter Motor
- Sway bar link
- a plastic connector in the coolant piping that breaks - they have made aluminum after market part
Here is what AI says about Starter:
The starter motor on a 2009 Toyota Corolla typically lasts between 100,000 and 125,000 miles before failure is common. This aligns with general expectations for car starters, which usually last between 100,000 and 300,000 miles depending on usage and conditions
.While most 2009 Corollas experience starter issues after 100,000 miles, early failure can occur due to several factors:
Faulty starter solenoid
Damaged conductor brushes
Bad starter relay
Loose or corroded wiring
Frequent short trips or harsh driving conditions
Hard to keep quite about wow high mileage when I think of my 530k Buick with the engine never opened up. Or my other 350k Buick. Or my 480k olds, or my 240k olds, or or. . .just sayin is all.
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