My wife's 98 corrolla has had a crappy starter for a few months now. It takes usually 3-5 tries to get it to start. Tonight I had her car and was going to pick up my daughter and I tried to start it a few times and I heard the starter clicking like always then it almost started and then gave out. I tried again and the starter wasn't even clicking. Then I turn key to off and pull it out of ignition and gauge cluster back lights start flashing and so do the headlights. I turn the headlights on and then the gauge cluster and headlights go off. I wait a few seconds and turn headlights on again and they are very dim. I turn the key again and nothing but the same over and over. I got a jump from my neighbor and she started up only after I turned the headlights on. It would even try tom turnover until headlights were on. This is confusing the hell out of me. My thoughts were a variety of problems.

1. ignition switch
2. alternator
3. battery
4. something shorting out
5. starter is a known problem

Sorry for the long post, but any help will be greatly appreciated.

 

dead battery, or at least a drained one. i would take both the battery and the starter to an auto parts store to test em both.

if the battery is around 4 years old you may want to replace it before the winter

 

thanks man I figured it was the battery. starter is clicking so selonoid is still good.

 

2nd vote for dead battery