Check the wires on the battery and make sure that it has proper contacts, also check all fuses. I bet it's one of the fuses.
1. bad starter selenoid 2. blown fuse in the circuit 3. bad ground at the starter (not likely, but possible) Start at the starter, with a test light, and work your way back through the curcuit until you find power. That's where the problem will be. If the starter has no power move to the selenoid. If the selenoid had no power in the switch circuit move to the fuse. If the selenoid has no power on the battery side move to the fusable link. Keep working your way to the ignition switch.
A starter will not disengage if the ignition switch is stuck or if the solenoid has jammed. This will cause the starter to constantly receive power.
Check power from your ignition, and power at the starter
If you battery has plenty of power, either faulty contacts in ignition switch or starter motor, or faulty starter motor.
The starter relay on an 86 Toyota Celica is used to provide power to the starter when the engine is cranked. It also prevents damage as a result of overheating or overdraw.
It sends a power to the starter relay/solenoid to engauge the starter. Know that the ignition switch is not what you put the key in and turn. That is the lock assembly. The ignition switch is located lower down on the steering column.
Sounds like open circuit from ignition to starter example: neutral safety switch may be bad. If oyu can bypass it by jump across it & try starting car. You have an open circuit somewhere from ignition switch to the starter. Possibly also a starter relay is bad. Whn you trun key to "start position" put a test light at battery cable that connects to starter - the test light should light up if oyu have power all the way there from ignition
The positive battery cable connects directly to the starter. Depending on what type of vehicle it is, the solenoid is either on the starter or on the inner fender. Power for the solenoid comes from the ignition switch. You can run a wire to the solenoid to cause the starter to engage.
First, make sure your all of your electrical connections and fuses are good. (battery cables are not corroded and cable to starter and ground are good) If they are good, it sounds like you either have a bad ignition switch or starter. You might try having someone turn the ignition switch to start position while using a multi-tester to see if you are getting power to the starter. If you are getting power to the starter, and it won't engage, chances are you need a new starter. If you do not have power to the starter, you might have a bad ignition switch. In certain circumstances you might try tapping on the starter with a hammer while someone is turning the ignition switch to see if it will engage. If it will, I would look to a bad starter. I have found that a majority of the time, a starter is the problem, not the ignition switch. Hope this helps.
Your ignition relay might be bad if you have good power at the battery, but nothing happens at the starter when you turn the key, all the lights light up and everything appears normal, but the starter will not engage. You may also hear a click when turning the key to start, but nothing else.
Your ignition key wil open it.
It could just be your starter...