Engine NOT turning over .... Help ..!

[Amebb]

Hi there

i need soe help here please.

My car is a toyota mr2 with the 3sgte engine. I have spent the last few months rebuilding the car.

Yesterday, i tried to start the car. When i turn the key nothing happens, The starter motor doesnt turn at all. It makes no noise or anything else....

Does anyone have a clue as to what it can be...??

I have checked the connections to the ecu, to the relays, the fuses and checked the starter motor cables - they all seem to be fine.

Has anyone had a similar problem to this ?? Can anyone help ??

Thanks

[jtholman]

Sorry to state the obvious here but is the starter ok? have you removed it and tested it with a set of jump leads direct to the terminal on the starter motor to see if it turns? and then to the solenoid to see if it works?

If all is ok, next is to put a test meter on the 12V switch wire and turn the key to the start position and see if there's any Juice.

Sorry if I'm teaching you to suck eggs, but you never mentioned you've tried this yet...

[greglebon]

yeh...was going to suggest putting a voltmeter across the battery terminals and checking if you have 12v there..?

If you have, then get someone to turn the key and try to start the car: if the volts drop right down when you do this, you need a new battery, basically...

If the battery is ok, then you need to start checking fuses, etc: the starter motor solenoid could be also jammed.......

Do you get lights on the dash when the key is turned to "acc"?

[Amebb]

I am checking the starter motor and the starter motor relay as we speak....

The lights that i get on the dash is just a single light showing battery. Nothing else.....

Thanks

[greglebon]

I can't be definite about this (others will be able to confirm), but even if the battery is very low, you should get some sort of relay switching under the dash when the key is turned.....?

If you dont have this, it could be something immobiliser-related, maybe..?

[Amebb]

I have had a look at the immobilisor. The one that i have fitted is by laserline. The model is laserline 936.

This unit is about 20 years old.... i think it was the original one fitted.

Anyways, i have found out that this unit is not an immobilisor at all. Just a very basic alarm unit.

The starter motor relay has been tested and works fine. Nothing wrong with that at all.

I am in the process of testing the starter motor. Just need to find a suitable guide to read and then test my starter motor.

I have read else where that sometimes bad earthing can cause issues. So later on i will be testing the earthing on the engine.

I dont think that the problem is worse than it sounds.

Just to recap on the history of my car.... The previous owner had taken the old original engine out - the engine was an 3sge and replaced it with the 3sgte.

When i got the car it did start, the starter motor did work etc.... so the wiring is not faulty or damaged in anyway.

Oh well, better find the testing guide for the starter motor.

Thanks

[Tiamat]

Moved from MK3 to MK2 section since its a MK2 engine so likely to get more responses.

[foxy-stoat]

When you turn the key you should get more than just the battery light on the dash. Check the fuses inthe frunk, there should be a 7.5amp one that is to do with the ignition circuit, cant remeber which one.

Check them all with a voltmeter, one of them maybe blown.

[JJ]

Sounds like an earth fault !

Have you earthed the engine out at all ?! No earth and you'll experience these problems ! Go buy an earth strap, use one of the bolts off the starter and bolt it to the chassis of the car !

[Amebb]

Hi there

I have had a look at the problem. Basically it was an earth issue.

At the front of the engine there is a cable that goes from the engine to the body. That wasnt connected.

I connected the cable and tried to start the car.

The engine did turn BUT it did not start.

The other problem is that the earth cable became very hot and started to smoke....

Has anyone come across that before....?

I am not sure if the wiring is incorrect or it could be somthing else.....??

Any clues as to what the issue could be ........ ???


Thanks

[mr2magic]

Replace and upgrade all your grounds! The old ones, if not cared for, corrode and cause an excessive amount of resistance, leading to electrical problems and in the worst case fire!

Select 1 or 2 approriately sized ground straps and mount these from Head to chassis and from block to chassis.