Things You'll Need

Instructions

Check the Battery with a Voltage Meter

1

Put on eye protection and long sleeves. Remove all jewelry.
2

Pop the hood of the car.
3

Place the voltage meter near the vehicle.
4

Remove the positive terminal protective cover. This comes off in the 2003 Toyota Corolla with no external hardware.
5

Place the positive side meter lead to the positive side of the battery. The positive side is red.
6

Place the negative side meter lead to the negative side of the battery. The negative side is black.
7

Assess the voltage. Your car should read between 12.5 and 12.8 volts if it is not running and has not been recently driven. If your car registers less voltage, you may need to replace the battery.

Check the Battery without a Voltage Meter

1

Turn the key in the ignition. Confirm that you hear a clicking noise.
2

Leave the engine off. Turn the windshield wipers on.
3

Assess whether the windshield wipers are moving at a normal or sluggish pace. The battery controls the windshield wipers, so if the battery is dead or dying, the wipers will either move very slowly or not at all.
4

Check the dashboard lights. Confirm that they are dimmer than necessary. The battery also controls these lights.
5

Jump the car with jumper cables, a working vehicle and an assistant. Let it run for 30 to 45 minutes to charge the battery. If your car battery is more than four years old, you may need to replace it. Charging it will not last over the long term.

Key Won't Turn in the Ignition

1

Turn the wheel gently to the left and right.
2

Jiggle the key in the ignition as you would in a lock that is stuck. Perform step one and two simultaneously.
3

Repeat step one and two with a spare key. The key might be worn and no longer fit properly in the lock mechanism.

No "Check Engine" Light

1

Turn the key in the ignition.
2

Verify that the "Check Engine" light does not appear on the dashboard.
3

Take your Corolla to a mechanic. The absence of the "Check Engine" light may mean that there is no power getting to the engine computer. A wire or a fuse that cannot be easily found may need to be repaired.