Help Me Make This Car Run

[coachray]

I have a 1997 Toyota Tercel that has sat in my garage for 1.5 years.
It ran perfectly when it was last parked. I tried to jump start it since the battery has died and it would just make the starting noise and nothing would happen. Now it does not make the starting noise anymore, but just a clicking noise. I replaced the fuel filter and looked at the spark plugs. They seemed to be fine. What are some general troubleshooting ideas I can try before calling a mobile mechanic?

[frank]

Check and clean the connections on the starter and battery terminals.

[Tigster]

tap the starter with a hammer

[MTX]

LOLLL

new fuel?

[myown_mortality]

check your alternator, make sure there's power going to it.

[myown_mortality]

LOLLL

new fuel?
or this lol

[zmanrz]

All of the above plush basic tune up. Pluggs and wires air filter etc.

[Tigster]

LOLLL

new fuel?

seafoam would help to stabilize the old fuel enough to add some fresh without draining.

[MTX]

if its turning over id spray brake cleaner into the the throttle body

[myown_mortality]

if its turning over id spray brake cleaner into the the throttle body
+1

also, CHECK YOUR FUSES.

[coachray]

UPDATE:
I have done the following:

Added Seafoam and a few gallons of fuel
Put the battery from my MAzda into the Tercel
Checked all fuses
Sprayed the TB with brake cleaner


As far as the air filter goes, it has a K&N and it looked clean.

It still does the same thing. It makes the starting noise, but will not turn over.

I looked online and saw a way to test if it is getting spark. I pulled one of the spark plugs and reconnected it to the boot thingy and put the thread of the spark plug on a nut. My wife started the car and I did not see a spark.

Does this mean the ignition coil is bad? How can I test it to make sure that is the problem? I do have a multimeter.

It has a plug coming into it and then it sends out to a spark plug and connects to a spark plug itself. Where do I put the leads of the multimeter?


Thanks.

[VTC_WS6]

Is the engine actually turning over/cranking?

[coachray]

Yes it is. I just had the wife start it and I saw that it is turning over.

[VTC_WS6]

have you puled the plugs to ensure you're getting fuel? Or at least crack the fuel line fitting loose and see if there's pressurized fuel there.

[coachray]

I unbolted the fuel line where it connects to the fuel filter. I tried to crank the engine. I looked back at the fuel line, and no fuel tried to come out. The fuel filter is also empty.
Does this point to a bad fuel pump?

[Tigster]

the gas sitting could have gummed up the old one

[VTC_WS6]

Stick your ear on the tank while a friend turns the key to the 'on' position and listen for the fuel pump priming, if you don't hear anything you might have a dead pump or bad relay/fuse and no power to the pump.

[coachray]

It was the fuel pump. ITS ALIVE!!!!!!
Fixed just a few minutes ago. Now for new brakes, oil change, and an AC recharge and she will be good to go for years to come (hopefully).

[coachray]

Its alive, but it wont move lol.
It looks like most of the items that the interior fuses are supposed to connect do not operate right now. This includes the AC, blinkers, and wipers. The car will not go into gear. I checked all of these interior fuses and they are not blown. I even took off the oxidation that was on the leads and still nothing. Does another large fuse control the interior fuse box?

[Sky]

Its alive, but it wont move lol.
It looks like most of the items that the interior fuses are supposed to connect do not operate right now. This includes the AC, blinkers, and wipers. The car will not go into gear. I checked all of these interior fuses and they are not blown. I even took off the oxidation that was on the leads and still nothing. Does another large fuse control the interior fuse box?

Check the fuseable links in the engine bay fuse block.

What do you mean i runs but wont move?

[coachray]

The engine is running, but I cannot get the car out of park. It looks like everything electrical except for the head lights is not working properly. This includes the radiator fan.
I'm looking at the fuses in the engine area and they all look fine. I'm not sure what to look for now.

[Sky]

The engine is running, but I cannot get the car out of park. It looks like everything electrical except for the head lights is not working properly. This includes the radiator fan.
I'm looking at the fuses in the engine area and they all look fine. I'm not sure what to look for now.


Sure sounds like a fuseable link to me man if the shifter wont unlock when you put your foot on the brake, plus all the other things happening at the same time. Did you happen to touch the leads to the wrong posts or something that caused a lot of arcing? Go over all the fuses with a test light and double check. If that many things are messed up you may have accidently fried a fuesable. They look a little like a big fuse, and are normally screwed into the slot they sit in. (being they just dont pull out)

[coachray]

The main fuse (30 amp) in the engine bay was blown. I could barely tell it was blown, but it was. I just need to figure out how to remove it. It doesn't want to come out.

I connected this fuse together by making both ends touch and the wipers and turn signals worked. This might be the problem. Now to google how to get the damned thing off.

[Sky]

The main fuse (30 amp) in the engine bay was blown. I could barely tell it was blown, but it was. I just need to figure out how to remove it. It doesn't want to come out.

I connected this fuse together by making both ends touch and the wipers and turn signals worked. This might be the problem. Now to google how to get the damned thing off.


Thats a fuseable link. Its held in with screws at the base, where it makes contact.

[coachray]

I got it off finally. It was bolted on two sides. I hope I can find a replacement one at autozone or advance.

[Sky]

I got it off finally. It was bolted on two sides. I hope I can find a replacement one at autozone or advance.

Yep they have them. Just take it with you and match it up.