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My 2016 Toyota Yaris won’t start this morning. It makes a rapid clicking sound when I turn the key, but the battery voltage reads 12.6V on my multimeter. Lights and radio work fine. Is there a shop around here that rebuilds starters or do I have to source one from Miami?
If your battery reads 12.6V but clicks under load, your starter solenoid contacts are likely completely corroded by the salt air. It is a super common issue here because the starter sits low in the engine bay and catches all the salt mist. Take it out and bring it to my shop near the East End. I have generic copper contacts that we can solder in to rebuild it, so you don’t have to wait two weeks for a DHL shipment from Florida.
@Scrub_Island_Fan Also double check the main engine ground strap! It runs from the transmission to the chassis and tends to turn completely green and disintegrate on the Yaris. If that wire is frayed, the starter can’t draw enough amps to crank, even if the battery is fully charged.