my sister's corolla is having starting issues. we've already replaced the battery in it. she writes:

"Okay, here's what my car does. Put the key in and turn it and the dashboard
lights up, everything seems normal, except the engine doesn't make a sound.
Doesn't even try to turn over, just dead silence. The electrics fade a tiny
bit but not like a dead battery would make them, and anyway, the battery's
new and the problem sometimes corrects itself minutes later and the car
starts without a hiccup. There's no clicking sound, and pushing the
gearshift forward without depressing the button while I try to start it also
has no effect."

the weird thing is, if you jump start the car when it does this, it starts right up. any ideas?

 

First thing I'd do is look for dirty/corroded/loose connections on the big battery & ground cables, both ends of all the cables. Don't forget where the cable itself is attached to the clamps, & don't forget the big engine-to-chassis ground.

If that's not it, then rap on the starter with a broom handle or something. If that kicks the starter into working, then her starter is beginning to go bad.

 

Bad ground connections would give similar symptoms as a bad battery. That's what happened to me.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JimBlake &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If that's not it, then rap on the starter with a broom handle or something. If that kicks the starter into working, then her starter is beginning to go bad.</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

probably have a bad safety neutral switch... the next time it does this, put it in neutral and try to start it... if it starts right up more then likely thats what it is... if that doesnt work, bang on the starter and see if that will start it up.

 

check your starter and see if it is good. also check for corriosn on you battery cables especially the ground cable.