supra wont start

tex1116 · 10-20-2005, 09:44 PM

I have a 1988 toyota supra 7mgte.. when i try to start it i can hear the starter spinning but the engine isnt cranking.. I tried taking the starter off and it is in a horrendous spot and the one bolt that i can reach is so tight i can't get enough torque on it(from top and underneath). IS there a possibility it isnt the starter but rather the engine is seized? a little background, i havent driven the car in a year due to suspension and brake problems, every once in a while i would start it, recently i started it and kinda forgot about it, and it ran for a good hour. About a week later i tried to start it and thats when this problem occured. theres plenty of oil, though it does have a leak. Is there a surefire way to check for a seized engine so i dont waste any more time on the starter?

Kristamarie · 10-20-2005, 10:05 PM

Remove a spark plug; place a wrench on the crank pulley and hold your finger over the hole. Turn the crank and if you feel the pressure building up at the spark plug your pistons are moving. Not seized.

rnoswal · 10-21-2005, 12:54 AM

Well it could be a couple of things. The starter is probably not engaging with the ring gear. You could have a bad spot on the flywheel, teeth ground away in a spot or the bendix isn't pushing the starter gear into the ring gear. Yeah, the starter bolts are a joke to get to. It would be easier to take off the EGR stuff there first.

If you have a manual trans then you could put it in 2nd or 3rd gear and rock the car ans see of the crank pulley turns, alt, A/C and powersteering pump or do what the previous person said. It could be the battery even or the cable going from the battery to the starter, or even the little wire that goes to the bendix part on the starter.

All is not lost, but you have to be able to isolate those areas and see if you can get the starter off to have it checked. While it is off you can rotate the engine and look at the teeth on the ring gear to see if that is bad or not. Auto Zone or Advanced Auto will check the starter for free.

Let us know.

Oh yeah, check the oil in the engine, if there isn't any and you heard loud knocking noises while it is running then you might have a serious problem, but if it is smooth and no knocks then check the above.

Russ

10-20-2005, 09:44 PM	#1
tex1116 Stock Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 6	supra wont start I have a 1988 toyota supra 7mgte.. when i try to start it i can hear the starter spinning but the engine isnt cranking.. I tried taking the starter off and it is in a horrendous spot and the one bolt that i can reach is so tight i can't get enough torque on it(from top and underneath). IS there a possibility it isnt the starter but rather the engine is seized? a little background, i havent driven the car in a year due to suspension and brake problems, every once in a while i would start it, recently i started it and kinda forgot about it, and it ran for a good hour. About a week later i tried to start it and thats when this problem occured. theres plenty of oil, though it does have a leak. Is there a surefire way to check for a seized engine so i dont waste any more time on the starter?

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10-20-2005, 10:05 PM	#2
Kristamarie Stock Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Saginaw, Michigan Posts: 10	Remove a spark plug; place a wrench on the crank pulley and hold your finger over the hole. Turn the crank and if you feel the pressure building up at the spark plug your pistons are moving. Not seized.

10-21-2005, 12:54 AM	#3
rnoswal Lexus & 550's Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Bossier City LA Posts: 556	Well it could be a couple of things. The starter is probably not engaging with the ring gear. You could have a bad spot on the flywheel, teeth ground away in a spot or the bendix isn't pushing the starter gear into the ring gear. Yeah, the starter bolts are a joke to get to. It would be easier to take off the EGR stuff there first. If you have a manual trans then you could put it in 2nd or 3rd gear and rock the car ans see of the crank pulley turns, alt, A/C and powersteering pump or do what the previous person said. It could be the battery even or the cable going from the battery to the starter, or even the little wire that goes to the bendix part on the starter. All is not lost, but you have to be able to isolate those areas and see if you can get the starter off to have it checked. While it is off you can rotate the engine and look at the teeth on the ring gear to see if that is bad or not. Auto Zone or Advanced Auto will check the starter for free. Let us know. Oh yeah, check the oil in the engine, if there isn't any and you heard loud knocking noises while it is running then you might have a serious problem, but if it is smooth and no knocks then check the above. Russ