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Dec. 16, 2010 2:24 p.m. PubBurgers Dork

My wife drove our 92 Toyota Paseo home from work today. Just like every other day, it ran flawlessly aside from some alternator belt squeal.

When she got home i went out to tighten the belt. I touched nothing but the alternator. I went to start it to see if the squeal was gone and......nothing. The accessories come on fine but when I go to start it I get nothing. I hear the relay under the hood click but don't hear the starter.

When I turn the key I hear a humming sound, doesn't sound like the fuel pump.

I have NO idea what happened and even less time to figure it out. I checked the battery connections and even tried jumping it. I'd try to push start it but it just snowed again and that's pretty much impossible.

Any ideas before I have it towed to the shop. I may try hammering the starter but i'm not going to get my hopes up on that one.

Jacques
Dec. 16, 2010 2:29 p.m. Tyler H Dork

Loosen the belt and see if it will start again?
Dec. 16, 2010 3:04 p.m. Grtechguy SuperDork

check all the electrical connections on the alt as well
Dec. 16, 2010 3:47 p.m. WilberM3 HalfDork

has it been cranking at full speed lately?

if you can get at it, i'd try just shorting the starter to see if its still functional. if so that gives you a direction to look for bad connections/switch.
Dec. 18, 2010 5:18 p.m. PubBurgers Dork

Anyone know where the starter relay is located on these? It got dark out before I could get a real good look and info on it's location is surprisingly sparse on the internets.
Dec. 18, 2010 10:53 p.m. Stealthtercel Reader

FWIW, that exact question ("How can I locate and test the starter relay on a 1993 Paseo?") received this reply here:

"You don't need to.You need to put new contacts in the starter solenoid switch, just take the three 8mm bolts out of the solenoid cover and pull out the plunger and you will see what I'm talking about, the car has no relay for the starter."

YMMV!
Dec. 18, 2010 10:56 p.m. Stealthtercel Reader

I also found this if you want to see a video. (The video was shot in the summer, which is nice for those of us where it snows.)
Dec. 19, 2010 6:15 p.m. PubBurgers Dork

Tried a couple things today. Ignition relay is good, battery isn't the problem. Wires to the alternator seem to be hooked up fine. Going to be doing some more looking tomorrow since I finally have a day off.
Dec. 24, 2010 9:40 p.m. slickster

In reply to PubBurgers:

My 93 Paseo has 2 starter relays behind the glove compartment left side
Dec. 25, 2010 12:01 a.m. Lesley SuperDork

Aren't they just Tercels with prettier bodies?
Dec. 25, 2010 1:49 a.m. slickster New Reader

In reply to PubBurgers:

Try going to "TercelOnline.com" I have found it quite usefull on paseo info. I hope it helps
Dec. 25, 2010 9:29 a.m. PubBurgers Dork

slickster wrote:

In reply to PubBurgers:

My 93 Paseo has 2 starter relays behind the glove compartment left side

Thanks for that, I was wondering where the starter relay was. Unfortunately, it wasn't the problem. There was a 30amp fuse in there that looks like it could use replacing though.

Tried push-starting yesterday to no avail. Double checked all the connections and fuses in the engine compartment and everything seems OK.
Dec. 25, 2010 11:41 p.m. Stealthtercel Reader

"Aren't they just Tercels with prettier bodies?"

That's more true for the 2nd gen Paseos (95-up) than for the 1st gen. In the 1st gen, the Paseos got bigger wheels than the Tercel, a 16-valve engine for a thumping 25% power boost (80 hp all the way to 100! Woot!) and (with an automatic) an overdrive 4-speed instead of just 3.