Check your Toyota Highlander to see if the ignition switch, alternator, or battery are all in working order. These problems could be the real reason why the car won’t start even when the lights come on or flash when you turn the key or push the ignition button. But if you require specialist assistance, don’t be afraid to contact a professional auto repair shop.
If you liked this piece, be sure to read our other articles about this car:
In This Article...
What would prevent a Toyota from starting?
If the starting is spinning and you are getting power, the fuel system may be the source of the issue.
Power Connections
There are numerous electrical connections in your fuel injection system. They are joined at the top, on the cylinder heads, and on the intake airside. Check it whether there is a connection.
Pump and Relay for Fuel
If you have the necessary equipment, test your fuel system under pressure. Check all the electrical connections to the fuel pump with a circuit tester. On by turning the key. If there is a current, the pump is not the problem. Verify the fuse if there is no current. Replace the gasoline pump relay if the fuse is functioning properly. (This article has further information about replacing the fuel pump.)
Engine Filter
The fuel filter could be clogged even if the fuel pump is functioning. Replacing it if it’s clogged should be a part of your maintenance schedule. (This article has further information on gasoline filters.)
You can carry out each of these recommendations in your driveway at home. With the right tools, you can conduct more thorough tests.
- Valve for Cold Start Your automobile may not start if the cold start valve is damaged and the engine is cold.
- A MAF or ECU
- The computer in your automobile can be broken. You must contact your dealership for help if that is the situation.
- Poor injectors can prevent the engine from starting.
- Ring gear or a flywheel
- Your car may not start if these gears have worn teeth. When they are involved, they will shriek.
- Starter
- Make sure your starter is bolted down because it can be loose.
While any one of these elements is typically the cause of a car not starting, you can encounter a circumstance where it is outside the purview of these problems. If you have performed all the necessary inspections and the vehicle still won’t start, you might need to speak with your nearby Toyota dealership.
How can you start a Toyota Highlander manually?
The majority of cars have workarounds that make key fobs less of a need and more of a luxury. Despite their seeming necessity. To start your Toyota Highlander, you can actually utilize the metal key that is housed inside the key fob.
To start your Toyota Highlander with a dead key, adhere to these steps:
- Once seated, depress the brake and push the start button while keeping your key fob as close to the push-start button as you can.
- To release the metal key, first press the button on the bottom of your key fob. After that, remove it from the fob.
- Use the metal key to unlock the door on the driver’s side.
It’s uncommon for the key fob to fully die because they don’t require much power. Because of this, using these methods should typically enable you to start your vehicle without a completely functional key fob.
But keep in mind that your battery can be on the verge of dying completely. Change the battery as soon as you can to prevent any major issues down the road.
Take an extra second to save on vehicle insurance with Jerry while you’re already learning more about your key fob. The Jerry app, a certified broker, assists users in saving $879 annually on auto insurance on average.
Simply download the app, respond to a few questions, and Jerry will compare prices from more than 50 leading companies, including Progressive and Allstate, and send the best offers directly to your phone for no cost.
When your car has power but won’t start, what does it mean?
When a new engine won’t start, the battery is typically at blame. However, a dead battery and an alternator are mostly out of the question if the car is still getting electricity. Some batteries could ship from the factory with a lesser charge retention capacity. This is a manufacturing flaw, and the warranty allows for a replacement.
However, it is simple to believe that the battery is in perfect condition if a car won’t start but still has power. It can be very deceiving, especially if the lights, horn, and other electrical components work well. This is because not all peripherals use the same amount of energy.
To start the engine, however, the starter motor requires a lot of power. It’s possible that a battery nearing the end of its useful life won’t be able to power the starter motor sufficiently. Additionally, some electronic ignition systems start out by using a lot of energy. But since they draw less power from the battery, accessories like lights, horns, and radio systems might function.
Everyone may become confused at this point. So, get your multimeter and examine the battery terminals if your car won’t start but has electricity. It should ideally read 12 volts with the engine off, if not extremely near to it. The battery is on the verge of dying if not.
Start the car, switch on most of the accessories, and read it once more. When you press the accelerator, the voltage shouldn’t drop; instead, it should rise to 13.5 to 14 volts. If this doesn’t happen, there might be a problem with the alternator. When a car won’t start yet has power, this is the most typical problem.
Try Shifting the Shifter
Try to start the engine while keeping your foot on the brake and shifting into neutral. Move it back to park and try it again if that doesn’t work. Electrical contact inside the transmission range selector can occasionally be restored by moving the shifter (also known as the neutral safety switch).
Why won’t my car start despite a good battery?
Ever ponder the cause of a non-starting car? A weak or dead battery could be one of the causes. Use a battery tester to check the battery’s strength if it can measure cranking amps. If the battery cannot be tested, attempt jump-starting. If the car starts immediately away, a dead battery is most likely the cause of your issue. To guarantee proper contact, charge the battery and clean the terminals and cable connectors. If you try to jump-start your automobile and it won’t start, your starter, alternator, or another electrical system part may be broken. Make careful you read and abide by all handling and safety directions provided on the battery on our website.
When the battery is healthy, what prevents a car from starting?
It might seem simple, but if your battery, spark plug, and alternator are in good shape, you should check to see if your automobile has adequate fuel.
What can you do about it?
Before you start driving, check that your gas tank has enough fuel, and make an effort to keep it filled up.
During the winter, a fuel line in your car could even freeze. Keep in mind that the more space there is for water vapor to condense and freeze inside your car’s gasoline line, the more empty a gas tank or fuel tank there is.
Finally, have your gasoline reading gauge checked if it frequently runs out to the point that your car won’t start. The gauge can be defective and unable to provide you with the appropriate reading at the appropriate moment. Any other underlying problems with the fuel system will also be found by a mechanic.
How can I determine whether the starter fuse is blown?
Some starter relay fuse failure indicators are obvious, while others are less obvious. There are a number of tools required to adequately test for defects if you think your starter relay may be malfunctioning, including a voltmeter, wires, wrenches, and sockets.
To better understand whether the fuse is operating properly, you can use the multimeter to measure the voltage that is traveling through it. The sockets and wrenches are required to remove any vehicle parts in order to reach the fuse, and the wire serves as a jumper.
Check Voltage
Connect the red probe of your multimeter to the battery’s red terminal and the other to the circuit for the ignition switch when the multimeter is set to 20V DC. Have a helper turn the key and start the engine while they are seated in the driver’s seat.
Be sure to keep an eye on your multimeter while the engine starts. You have an electrical conductivity issue and require a new starter relay fuse if the voltage lowers by more than 0.2 volts.
Check Electrical Resistance
Put the probes of your multimeter on the ignition circuit terminal and ground lead to test the electrical resistance. The starting relay fuse needs to be replaced if the multimeter value is greater than 5 Ohms.
If you don’t have a multimeter, you can measure electrical resistance using a wire. The wire should have one end on the battery lead and the other on the ignition circuit. The starting relay does not need to be replaced if you hear a loud click. However, a weak click is a good indication that the fuse is bad if there is one.
My Toyota Highlander will start without the key fob.
I’m sorry to hear that the key gave you trouble. Your Toyota Highlander key fob most likely has a dead battery. But don’t worry! I’m glad to assist you.
Just follow these steps to start a Toyota Highlander without a key:
- On the side of the key fob, look for a push button.
- At this point, you might have noticed that the car lacks an ignition key slot.
- However, the car will start without any problems if you take the key fob and put it right on the push-button start as you press it in.
- You can enter the car by physically opening the doors with the physical key.
- The physical key will come out when you press the button firmly.
When you can, visit a store and purchase a CR2032 battery, which is what practically every key fob, including those for Toyotas, uses.
Did you know that you can save about $900 annually on auto insurance by installing the Jerry app for free in the time it takes to get back into your car?
Jerry assists you in comparing rates from more than 50 leading suppliers in minutes as a licensed broker. Jerry can assist you with purchasing new coverage and even canceling your existing policy when you discover a lower rate for your Toyota Highlander.