Strange electrical problems

[Anonymous]

Over the last couple of weeks, our MR2 has been showing the 'door open' warning light on the dash when the doors are closed, and the internal light has been staying on all the time, and hence the remote locking/alarm has not been working.  We got the car booked in at Toyota for them to have a look at it later this coming week...

Unfortunately, when we came to get the car out of the garage this afternoon to go for a top-down cruise in the sun, when I turned the key in the ignition all I got was a horrible churning electrical sound, and the 'electrical fault' light on the dash came on.  And it's a bank holiday weekend - typical!

I assume it's maybe the starter motor?!  Anyone else had a similar problem, and do you think the two different problems will be related, seeing as both are electrical problems?

Also, does anyone know whether Toyota dealers will collect and tow away a car in a situation like this?  (It's still under warranty, though not by many weeks).

[GSB]

There's a door open light?

[Anonymous]

There's a door open light?

Yes - the Toyota manual (page eight) describes it as the "open door warning light"; it's basically a little picture of a car with the two doors open!

[GSB]

There's a door open light?

Yes - the Toyota manual (page eight) describes it as the "open door warning light"; it's basically a little picture of a car with the two doors open!

Oh I believe you... I just dont recall ever seeing it... No bad thing I suppose, as with only 2 doors I tend to know if they're open or not... Its just worrying that in order to prove it to myself, I'm actually going to have to walk down to the garage, knowing full well that it'll be the most familiar thing ever when it lights up in front of me...

My memory must be going...  s:oops: :oops: s:oops:

[Anonymous]

I'm hoping that the churning sound is just an indicatation of a dead/dying battery (due to little lights being on all the time).  There must be a switch in the door.  The dome light has 3 positions: door, off, on.

[Anonymous]

Wiring diagram shows two Door Courtesy Switches, a couple of junctions, and a diode besides the dome (Interior Light) switch.

[Tem]

Low voltage on the battery can cause the starter motor to make funny noises. Maybe it's just that? I'd recharge the battery first.

About the electrical issue. It's more or less common in Toyotas that the door switch seizes or the ground wire breaks. Usually not at this age though, but maybe you're just down on luck  s8) s8)