I have a 91 Toyota Corolla that has an intermittant problem with starting. I have replaced the battery, starter and alternator. It will run with a new battery or starter for about four months and then the problem reappears. MOST of the time it starts right up with no problem. When it does not start - I just hear a click. No juice is apparently getting to the starter. If I let it rest for 20 minutes, it will start and run fine and start every time- until it doesn't. I am very frustrated with this problem, especially since it wouldn't start for the last 3 days. I finally got a jump from a kind man and it was harder than usual to start (probably because I ran the battery down trying to start it) but eventually did. It seems like there is some kind of switch that is stuck open or closed that prevents it from starting. Nothing else makes any sense, since I have already replaced all of the ignition parts that I know of and most of the time it starts just fine. There is no laboring as it tries to start, it just starts. Most of the advice that I have been given have to do with the simple things: battery, starter or alternator, which I have already replaced. Are there switches that could prevent it from starting. If so, where are they?

I think the car has gremlins, but I don't know what they want or how to make peace with them.

Were they OEM parts? Some aftermarket replacement parts can drive shade tree mechanics crazy--they assume the new parts are no longer part of the problem. I suspect a non-OEM starter is the problem, especially if you have cleaned all connections (including where the starter grounds to the engine block). Remanufactured starters and alternators often leave a lot to be desired, even though they look "clean and shiny." Read the link below:

https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/cars-trucks/faq-how-troubleshoot-repair-maintain-hondas-selected-other-vehicles-46563-3.html#post235560

Kitch428, our Toyota expert, may be able to shed additional light on this problem.

We had a Corolla the other day that just went click when trying to start.
Turned out to be an aftermarket battery positive terminal with heavy corrosion in the exposed (cut) wire end at the terminal.
But, most of the time in cases like this, the remanufactured starter you got a "deal" on turns out to be a lemon.
When push comes to shove, go buy a Toyota starter and be done with it.
The "switch" that you mention is inside the starter itself. They are called the starter contacts.

It could possibly be a loose wire or something but I think its just time for a new car.. sorry

Thanks to TxGreaseMonkey and Kitch428 for your answers. I did purchase an aftermarket starter (I am on a VERY restricted budget) and it ran fine for about 4 months. I thought the problem was solved. Then the problems started again. When I had it towed back to the shop that did the work - they bench tested the starter and told me that it tested okay and it started when leaving the shop?! Could the switch be faulty inside the starter and only malfunfunctions intermittently? Would replacing the contacts inside the starter help? A faulty switch fits more with my experience. Most of the time it works, but sometimes it doesn't. Only two of the times that it hasn't started is when I drove several hundred miles. That seemed to be related to heat. As soon as it cooled down, it started with no problem. Most all of the time, when it doesn't start, it is whatever the ambient temperature is. I park the car in a covered parking space. I have noticed in researching this on the net, this is a relatively common problem across many makes and years.

It sounds like the starter is getting heat soaked. Ensure the block is well grounded, since resistance goes up with heat. As resistance increases, amperage drops. Start by cleaning the main grounds, starter motor mounting surfaces, cable connections, and bolts. Apply dielectric grease to connections and grounds. If necessary, establish another good ground to the block and the problem should be solved.