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1993 Toyota Corolla Engine stopped

Tiny
DPOWNAGE20
  • MEMBER
  • 1993 TOYOTA COROLLA
  • 1.6L
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 290,000 MILES
My partner was driving it on the motorway then she felt it started to shake very bad like the engine was going to die then she decided to go at the side road and realized the break isn't working anymore (maybe the gas too). She used the hand brake to make a full stop then turned off the ignition. When she tried turning it on, it won't start anymore. When I got there, I tried turning it on too but it wont. I just hear a one click sound. The battery is still good. We also tried jumpstarting it with two different cars with no luck. Fuel is full. I tested the Oil, it is very low and we are thinking maybe the oil was leaking or something that made the engine stuck or not work. We are not sure how to test it or diagnose it deeper to find the problem. We poured some more oil in the engine and tried starting but still one click and nothing. The coolant is still on average level even inside the radiator. I hope you can help us figure out the problem like what to try to conclude that one particular thing is the problem. Thank you so much in advance!

Mikhail
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Tuesday, December 1st, 2015 AT 5:02 PM

9 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,867 POSTS
Did the brake pedal get very hard to push or go to the floor? As far as the engine, one click usually indicates a loose or corroded battery terminal. Check that first and let me know what you find. Also, are you certain that the battery is fully charged?
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Tuesday, December 1st, 2015 AT 5:44 PM
Tiny
DPOWNAGE20
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Hi,
Thanks for your quià k reaponse. The battery is still good and we already tried starting it with two otherother car, like jump starting. Thr same click sound. Is it possible to be like this if the engine doesnt have oil if it was leaking?
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Wednesday, December 2nd, 2015 AT 5:07 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,867 POSTS
How low was the oil? How much did you have to add to fill it? Were there any knocking or ticking sounds before it stopped running? Also, what about the brakes?

Keep in mind, if there is a poor connection at the battery, starter, or the primary ground, you can have 10 cars jumping it and the power won't go through.

Let me know about how the brake reacted and how low the oil was. The engine may have locked-up if the oil was low enough. As a result, the starter can't turn it.
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Wednesday, December 2nd, 2015 AT 6:14 PM
Tiny
DPOWNAGE20
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
I checked the battery just now and the cables. They look solid to me, no corrosion or anything but I'm not sure about the other end (going to the starter) and haven't check the starter because I'm not sure where is that. I will try to look from the net where to see find it. Is there an easy way too to test if the starter is failing or dead?

As per the Oil, when I first tested it, the oil was just barely touching a little bit of the tip of the thin rod oil tester or what ever they call that. I added new oil until it went up between the L and F. I tested it again today, it is still between the L and F. I tried starting it, still the same thicking sound. My father told me he tried to move the spindle or axle where the pan belt is and he said it wont move. Should it really move or if not the engine is stuck?

The break feels like a bit hard, but it is not stuck on the floor. My partner said before it happened, the car was vibrating like it was about to die.

I'll try to see where the starter is then let you know. Thank you! :)
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Thursday, December 3rd, 2015 AT 12:35 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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Ask your father if he tried to turn the engine over my hand. Was it the crankshaft he was trying to turn? It it was and it won't turn, that sounds like the engine is locked up. Let me know.
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Thursday, December 3rd, 2015 AT 6:13 PM
Tiny
DPOWNAGE20
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
I asked him, he said yes, but he was trying to turn it by turning the other axle or that round thing and they are connected with a belt. I tried to turn it too just now just to make sure. It is not turning in any direction. If the engine is locked up, what should we do? Can we still fix it or can it still be fixed?
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Friday, December 4th, 2015 AT 11:18 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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Okay, do me a favor. Rather than turning it by hand, there is a bolt in the center of the crank pulley. Get a ratchet on it and see if you can turn it. If one of the cylinders is on a compression stroke, it can be VERY hard to turn by hand.

If the engine has 290K miles on it and IS locked up, it wouldn't be worth the money to fix it.
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Monday, December 7th, 2015 AT 6:41 PM
Tiny
DPOWNAGE20
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2 days ago a mechanic came here to see our car. He just asked some question and just look a bit then he concluded that the Engine is locked. Maybe it is really locked and no hope to fix it. We have 290 Kms on the gauge now.

But I read some other things about the engine and saying that I need to do what you said to make sure that it is really locked because they said it might some other things like AC, power steering or some sort causing the engine not to start. Just to make sure I'll do what you said and try turning it on before my pops decided to get rid of the car for wrecking. We are out of town and we'll be back tomorrow then let you know. I really appreciate your help. Thank you! :)
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Tuesday, December 8th, 2015 AT 1:59 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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I'm really happy to help. Let me know what you find. Make sure you use a good wrench that will provide enough leverage to turn it.
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Tuesday, December 8th, 2015 AT 6:00 PM

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