Could be a moisture or thermal problem, maybe never will know, just know it doesn't happen anymore. :) What is the temperature?? That car is 11 years old, that's about when corrosion sets in. Pull apart all the connectors in the circuit area and look for a corroded pin. That vehicle should be OBDII, scan it, see if you come up with any codes. Probably the ABS has it's own scanner plug. There might be a way to get codes out of that without the scanner. Maybe connect an analog voltmeter and count the blips of the needle. John Chung wrote: > Good tips there but does not quite explain the issue with the > 5 minutes idle period I need before starting the car again... > > BTW, it is a Toyota Corolla, 1997 model. > > Thanks, > John > > --- On Sat, 2/21/09, Carl Denk wrote: > > >> From: Carl Denk >> Subject: Re: [OT] Car problem elimination >> To: "Microcontroller discussion list - Public." >> Date: Saturday, February 21, 2009, 8:45 PM >> First thing I would check is electrical connections, both >> ends of >> battery cables and any wires, cables going to the starter, >> engine, and >> grounds to the body. By check, I mean remove the cable end, >> check for >> corrosion and clean, reinstall. Had once a main cable to >> V-8 starter >> looked good, but when put a voltmeter on the stud and the >> cable end, >> cranked engine, big voltage drop. Took the nut off, wire >> brushed, put it >> back together again, OK. Since you have the service manual, >> the >> electrical section should tell the location of all the >> grounds. Check >> the ABS, and car's computer ground paths back to >> battery. >> >> What's the temperature, if cold, crazy things happen. >> With temps 0F, 27 >> Hp. Kohler engine wouldn't crank, replaced starter >> solenoid, all OK. Cut >> open old solenoid, corrosion/arcing deposits on one pole of >> very beefy >> copper contacts caused enough resistance for a no crank. >> This engine in >> slightly warmer temps started reliably for several years. >> >> John Chung wrote: >> >>> Hi guys, >>> >>> Need some advise with my current car. I could start >>> >> the car >> >>> without no problems at all. This was about an hour of >>> >> rest. >> >>> While driving the ABS light turned on*Checked through >>> >> my service manual that something was wrong with my ABS*. >> Decided to turn off the car. Attempted to immediately >> restart the car again. But it failed. There was some clicks >> from the engine but NO cranks. Left it idle for 5 mins. >> Could start the car >> >>> immediately! >>> >>> I am not sure that is it the battery fault. Since >>> >> batteries that go bad >> >>> can't start the car period..... Or at least start >>> >> the car once and can't restart again despite waiting for >> it to recover..... >> >>> Any clues? >>> >>> Thanks, >>> John Chung >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >> -- >> http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive >> View/change your membership options at >> http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist >> > > > > -- http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist