2007 Yaris won’t start… any ideas?

Toyota Passenger and Sports Car Forums Toyota Yaris/Scion iA/ Echo/ Vitz
1

I turn the key and the power comes on, but the engine doesn’t start. The lights come on, but there’s no sound at all.

The battery was replaced a few months ago, so I’m thinking it could be the starter or a fuse issue. Here’s a little extra info: we installed an aftermarket touchscreen head unit and a backup camera a couple of months ago. Everything has been working fine, but yesterday the engine wouldn’t start.

Any thoughts on what it could be, and how expensive the fix might be? We’ve put a lot into this car recently and we’re getting close to our limit. Love this car though! Thanks in advance!

2

It sounds like there might be an issue with the starter motor or the connections to it. Have you checked if you’re getting any voltage to the starter? Sometimes it’s as simple as a loose wire, or it could be a more serious issue with the starter itself.

3

@trecy
No noise at all, the lights and head unit still work, and we replaced the battery months ago. Tried a jump start and it didn’t work either. I’m starting to wonder if it’s a wiring issue or something with the starter motor like you said.

4

Check if the starter socket is plugged in. Sometimes it can get loose or disconnected, especially if any work has been done around that area recently.

5

Make sure the ground connection to the starter is solid. A loose ground wire can prevent the starter from working properly.

6

Double-check that the battery terminal connections are tight and clean. Even a slightly loose connection can cause starting issues.

7

Could be the alternator. If it’s not charging the battery properly, the car might have enough power to light things up but not enough to turn over the engine.

8

Not likely since it seems like you’ve had the car for a while, but make sure you’re fully pressing the clutch when you try to start it. I remember panicking the day after I bought my car because it wouldn’t start, only to realize the clutch wasn’t fully engaged.

9

Have you measured the voltage at the battery? Since you mentioned the stereo install, it’s worth checking that first. If the wiring for the aftermarket stereo isn’t set up correctly, it could be drawing power even when the car is off. Given that your screen also stopped working, that could be a clue. It might be related to the stereo wiring causing a drain on the battery or a fuse issue.