in need of some help!!!

[aznofmuff]

hey guys, i have a 1.5 yaris 08 that i accidentally had a light crash into my own fence! can u believe that?! well anyways, the front bumper is a tad smacked in and everything else seems to be fine. all the mechanical controls are good but theres just one thing. i cant start the engine. i cant seem to get it to crank but i can turn the battery on and all the electronics work fine. can anyone help me?! i was thinking maybe one of the sensors sensed that i crashed and now it wont let me turn on the engine. many thanks!!!

[CTScott]

There is not a safety interlock that would prevent starting, so start by checking to make sure that the battery has enough of a charge to crank the starter. If it is OK, then check all of the fuses in the under hood and under dash fuse panels to see if perhaps you pinched a wire, causing a short and hence a popped fuse.

[aznofmuff]

thanks scotty i tried what you said but it still wont turn over. when i turn the key into ignition theres no cranking sound what so ever. i can just hear the battery hum. and the check engine and check oil lights are on. i checked the fuses but they all seem to be okay and theres still plenty of juice in the battery.

[ilikerice]

try jumping the starter.. basicly bypass the ignition. have the car in the "ON" position. hit the starter straight from the battery using a large guage wire.. connect it to the positive side battery and they touch the signal wire... *dont shock yourself*

you can rule out battery and starter like this.. if it does start that is..then look toward the ignition possible..

[CTScott]

Originally Posted by aznofmuff

thanks scotty i tried what you said but it still wont turn over. when i turn the key into ignition theres no cranking sound what so ever. i can just hear the battery hum. and the check engine and check oil lights are on. i checked the fuses but they all seem to be okay and theres still plenty of juice in the battery.

The hum may be the starter solenoid being energized, but not having enough juice to actually spin the starter. Either try measuring the battery voltage while attempting to crank (if the battery is low/bad it will drop below 9 Volts) or just try jump starting it with another car.

[DMZ]

Check the battery connections and the condition of the poles. They may have been jarred enough to loosen up or even (unlikely) break a pole loose.

[rick996]

That hum sounds like a weak battery like CTScott said. Most car parts places will check your battery for free.

[aznofmuff]

hey guys!! thanks a lot for all your suggestions. but i tried jump starting the car, checking the fuses and everything but it still doesnt wanna start. theres no cranking sound from the starter motor when i turn on the engine. i kinda hit the right front side of the yaris and the radiator was bent in by like 10 cms. I still got no idea of how i can get the old girl running again. when i start the key the check engine, check oil and battery lights stay on. I also tried a scantool on it but theres no codes. thanks in advance!

[CTScott]

Originally Posted by aznofmuff

hey guys!! thanks a lot for all your suggestions. but i tried jump starting the car, checking the fuses and everything but it still doesnt wanna start. theres no cranking sound from the starter motor when i turn on the engine. i kinda hit the right front side of the yaris and the radiator was bent in by like 10 cms. I still got no idea of how i can get the old girl running again. when i start the key the check engine, check oil and battery lights stay on. I also tried a scantool on it but theres no codes. thanks in advance!

The lights stay on until the ECM gets the "start" input. If you have a multimeter, the next thing to do is to start following the flow of current to see where it stops.

First: At the ignition switch connector, measure the voltage on the gray wire (with the ignition off)

[henry98]

if you tried all these suggestions given to you and you are unable to start it.why dont you check it properly and take the help of any technician.

[aznofmuff]

hey scott, i just got a multimeter. how would i go about checking the flow of current. im kinda of a noob at these automotive thingy mabobs. is there a link with some diagrams you could link me with. many thanks

[CTScott]

Originally Posted by aznofmuff

hey scott, i just got a multimeter. how would i go about checking the flow of current. im kinda of a noob at these automotive thingy mabobs. is there a link with some diagrams you could link me with. many thanks

First measurement is the battery - Flip up the red cover on the positive terminal, so you can see the battery post.

1. Put the red meter lead on the + terminal and the black one on the - terminal of the battery. Measure the voltage:

2. Have someone else turn the key while you are still measuring. Record the lowest value that you see while they are turning the key:

3. Pop the cover on the under-hood fuse box. Locate the large violet wire in the center of the connector. Touch the red lead to the exposed metal on the pin of the violet wire and the black lead to the negative terminal of the battery.

Measure the voltage:

Have someone turn the key and record the voltage seen while they are turning the key:

[aznofmuff]

hey scott i tried what you said and both of them i get no voltage change what so ever. i know for one the ignition switch isnt busted since the radio turns off when i crank. but thats about it, could it be that i busted my starter motor? can the starter motor have gotten damaged when i crashed?

[CTScott]

Originally Posted by aznofmuff

hey scott i tried what you said and both of them i get no voltage change what so ever. i know for one the ignition switch isnt busted since the radio turns off when i crank. but thats about it, could it be that i busted my starter motor? can the starter motor have gotten damaged when i crashed?

If the starter was damaged, it would still draw power, unless the wiring snapped off of it.

On the ignition switch connector, measure each of the wires with respect to ground with the key "OFF", "ON", and with holding the key in "START"

[aznofmuff]

hey scott, i took off the starter motor and the solenoid, i put 12v to the starter and it works. but when i applied it to the solenoid nothing happens. is there a way that i can if the solenoid or the wiring to the solenoid is faulty? thanks in advance

[CTScott]

Originally Posted by aznofmuff

hey scott, i took off the starter motor and the solenoid, i put 12v to the starter and it works. but when i applied it to the solenoid nothing happens. is there a way that i can if the solenoid or the wiring to the solenoid is faulty? thanks in advance

On the solenoid, measure the resistance between the pin that the violet wire connects to and the large bolt terminal. The resistance should be less than 2 ohms.

[aznofmuff]

hey scott i tested the solenoid and i get around 0.6 - 0.9 ohms. so what does that mean?! many thanks again!!!

[CTScott]

Originally Posted by aznofmuff

hey scott i tested the solenoid and i get around 0.6 - 0.9 ohms. so what does that mean?! many thanks again!!!

It means that it is good. Take the measurements that I asked for in post #14 above next.