1991 Toyota Corolla Starting

1991 TOYOTA COROLLA
124,000 MILES • 4 CYL • FWD • AUTOMATIC
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JAVAPOP3
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
My heart is ending up in my throat when I turn my Ignition switch. Sometimes my car doesn't want to start. I am on my third starter which is an OEM NSA that currently has 6,000 miles on it. When I turn the iqnition switch to the on position the check engine and oil light do come on and dim when I turn the switch to the start position. The starter did work for 3,000 miles now the frequency of failure has jumped. Any recommendations would be welcome. Thank you

Peter
Sep 13, 2008 at 9:39 AM
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MERLIN2021
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
  • 17,250 POSTS
Have you changed the battery cables yet? Diming lights are either a weak battery, or bad cables, not a bad starter. What EXACTLY is happening?
Sep 13, 2008 at 10:48 AM
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JAVAPOP3
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
We checked the battery cables. I thought the dimming of the lights in the start/ignition position might help solve the problem.
Sep 13, 2008 at 11:50 AM
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MERLIN2021
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
  • 17,250 POSTS
did you do a voltage drop test on the cables? And the battery, with a meter? If the voltage drops below 10 volts during cranking with meter attached to the battery, it's no good. If you put the leads at each end of a cable, a drop of one volt is all you can accept. A cable's appearance does not tell about the corrosion of the cables.
Sep 13, 2008 at 12:01 PM
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