4a-ge randomly doesn't start

[keep_rollin]

just bought a 84 ae82 corolla gt sedan last week, and have had some problems getting it going. it usually starts, then once its been driven for a while and turned off won't start again. gotta leave it sitting before trying to start it again. below is what problems have been found already

the guy i bought it off said the alternator was screwed, we push started it and i drove it home, no problems. when i got home after an hours drive it didnt start, so took it into an auto-electrician who found the problem and rebuilt the alternator. it started and drove for a bit, but when i got home it wouldnt start again. took it back in and it turns out the starter motor was screwed too, so they replaced that. it drove sweet, took it for its wof, and once the dude had checked it over it didn't start... again... took it back again, found out that the dude i'd bought it off had done a cheap as job installin the alarm, wired it straight to the battery or somethin and so it was losin 5 volts straight off. they fixed that and it drove sweet for a while. now i find that i'll drive it round, stop it and it won't start. i'll leave it for a while(anything from 5 minutes) and it'll start again. any ideas of what could be the problem?

[rxtoy]

this is a common problem with late 80's early 90's honda's. the contacts on the main engine relay decay with age and start coming away from each other when they heat up (ie: driving). give them time to cool down and they work again.

this is only a maybe, i've never heard of it happening with toyota's but its very hard to diagnose because its so intermittent. if its this its an easy fix, just resolder the contacts on the relay and you'll be sweet.

hope it helps
Matt

[evil_si]

my sisters car does the same, as to exactly why im not sure.
i checked all the basics, alternator out put, positive battery drain, starter motor resistance and current draw, and repalced the battery in the end
although it tested up ok, seems to be fine now

my fxgt did a similar thing but found it to be just a loose battery terminal, sounds so simple but its pretty critical.

[aesc]

try the ignition relay, my old integra did it and my sisters civic did it until she replaced the relay.

[Farmer_dave]

Is it winding over at full speed when you turn the key??

[celica_tommo]

mine wouldnt start randomly like this a while ago... starter turned over fine but no go.

The next day I tried again and it went from cold staraight away

[badidas]

with those hondas the pgfmi relay shits it self i had a 86 ledgend for a while

[fatke30]

one of my ae82 gt's turns over but wont start sometimes too,its real strange cos if i open the bonnet and slam it shut it seems to shock something and it goes again,i have to do this randomly at traffic lights gas stations ect,lil embarresing but effictive,and cheeper than fixing the problem,which could be my coil igniter or coil even?

[krad]

Sounds like a relay?
Slamming the bonnet would shake a couple of contacts together pretty nicely.

[Farmer_dave]

Had my GT subaru in at the shop at a few times for a similar problem randomly it wouldnt start it would crank over just fine but wouldnt fire or anything, leave it for 10 mins and it would start fine. They ran the fault codes and it came up (Im pretty sure it was this) dwell sensor?? replaced that and it was fine.

[pc]

I have also have had this problem on my ae82. Turned out to be a fuse. Not sure what one you would call it, but it was a 30amp fuse mounted on the positive terminal and it stopped the fuel pump and the ignition... but the starter motor worked OK. I replaced the fuse and the car worked OK for a while and blew it again. I then replaced it with a big wire. All OK now.

[fatgtr]

had the same prob with the st182. try the battery terminals they could be lose thats what was wrong with mine anyway

[ants_ae92]

I've got an ae92,had the same prob. Wouldnt start after it was hot. Problem I had was fixed by a larger battery. Had so much running of the small battery, amp, stereo, alarm etc, that there was too much of a voltage drop? Altenator was checked and charging fine, the battery even tested up fine. The larger battery, with more cells, holds up fine. Try putting a starter relay in. The ae92 has a voltage meter in it, and mine showed that it dropped below the lowest point for the motor to start, still cranked at normal speed, just not enough volts.

Hope this spreads some light on your situation.

[solberg Fan]

Had the same problem with 4age to. Same as every one here ahy! My prob was a simple lose wire conection.
Is it turning over and not fiering or turn the key and nothing at all??
It could be heeps of things,

[skoty]

My sisters b16a Honda did the same thing... f**king annoying

[matt dunn]

Early toyota's do not have starter relays. That is the problem. Voltage drop through the wiring and IGN sw is the problem. It will need a starter relay fitted. Common prob. We prob do 2 toyota's a week with that prob at work.

Turn on all the elec accessories, lights heater and rear demister. Turn on ign and wait for about 5 sec's then start. If this stops it from starting then this is the problem.

strange question but it's related
Does it have std exh manifold?
Aftermarket flows overheat the starter and cause the armature to expand which jams the starter. Not a common problem but does happen.

[evil_si]

my sisters car, randomly wouldnt start, would often crank slow, some times the starter would just click.
replaced the starter today and it now works sweet, solenoid contacts must have been screwed

[matt dunn]

my sisters car, randomly wouldnt start, would often crank slow, some times the starter would just click.
replaced the starter today and it now works sweet, solenoid contacts must have been screwed

That will be a reduction type starter.
An AE82 wont be reduction and does not have replacable solenoid contacts.

[Helious]

My ae82 bluetop does/did this