How To Jumpstart A Toyota Highlander? [Step-by-Step Guide]

How To Jumpstart A Toyota Highlander? It can be difficult enough to have to jump-start a standard vehicle; what happens when you need to jump-start something that also has a hybrid drive system?

It is not necessary for you to be concerned about this matter as we have compiled a simple list of instructions that will demonstrate how to jump-start a Toyota hybrid vehicle such as the 2018 Toyota Camry.

Please take a moment to review the brief instructions that are provided below here.

VIDEO: How To Jumpstart A Toyota Highlander

Here is a tutorial about jumpstarting a Toyota Highlander:

Jumpstart A Toyota Highlander Hybrid

Here is the procedure for giving your Toyota Highlander Hybrid a jump start:

• To begin, raise the hood and remove the lid from the fuse box. Next, connect the positive jumper clamp to the jump-starting terminal on your vehicle. After that, connect the additional positive end to the positive battery terminal of the second vehicle.
• After that, connect the negative jumper clamp to the other vehicle, and then connect the negative jumper clamp on your side of the vehicle to an unpainted metallic portion of your own vehicle.
• The last step is to turn on the functioning vehicle, give the engine a few revs, and then let it run for a full five minutes.
• After the first five minutes have passed, you should test your Highlander. When the computer has successfully booted up, you can next remove the jumper wires in the reverse sequence of how they were attached to the system.

What are the steps involved in Jump Starting a Toyota hybrid vehicle?

Before you get started, you will need to make certain that both vehicles are switched off and parked in a secure location.

Step 1:

Lift the hood of the vehicle and look for the Jump Start Terminal under the lid of the fuse box.

Step 2:

Make the connection between the positive terminal and the red positive jumper cable.

Step 3:

Join the second red positive jumper cable to the positive battery terminal of the vehicle that is providing the jump start.

Step 4:

Establish a connection between the car that is providing the jump start’s negative battery terminal and the black negative cable clamp.

Step 5:

Connect the second negative clamp to a point on the object that is a solid metallic point that has not been painted and that is out of the way.

How to Properly Jump-Start a Car

You are going to need a set of jumper wires and a second vehicle in order to get this going.

You can contact a jump-start automobile service such as AAA if you do not feel confident jumpstarting your vehicle’s battery or if you do not have the tools necessary to jumpstart a car battery.

If you have made the decision to try to jump-start a car battery on your own, then you should proceed with the following steps:

• Place the vehicle with the healthy battery so that it is facing the one that needs to be switched off, then park it so that it is facing the other vehicle. Check to see that the parking brakes on both wheels are engaged.
• Locate the batteries and make sure both hoods are open. In order to gain access to the battery terminals, you might have to first remove a plastic cover.
• Determine which terminals are positive and which are negative. Ensure that they are spotless and free of any corrosion before using them.
• Establish a connection between the positive post of the dead battery and the red clamp.
• After unwinding the cable from the battery, connect the other red clamp to the positive terminal of the charged battery.
• Establish a connection between the negative post of the good battery and the black clamp.
• Connect the last clamp so that it is secured to an unpainted metal surface on the frame of your vehicle.
• After making sure that everything is fastened in place, start the engine of the vehicle that has a healthy battery first, followed by the engine of the vehicle that has a dead battery.
• After the dead vehicle has been successfully jump-started, remove the jumper cables with care, making sure to do so in the opposite order that they were attached, and then turn off the engine of the vehicle that was used to assist in jump-starting the dead vehicle.
• If you want to make sure that the weak battery doesn’t die again as soon as the vehicle has been restarted, Always refer to the owner’s manual for further information on the times that are recommended.

Toyota Highlander Won’s Start: Causes and Solutions

In a Toyota Highlander, a weak battery, corrosion on the battery terminals, a poor starter electrical connection, a defective ground connection, and a broken starter motor are the most typical causes of clicking noise and an inability to crank the engine.

1. Weak battery

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The Toyota Highlander’s poor battery is the most likely culprit behind the clicking sounds and the vehicle’s inability to start.

If you try to start the vehicle and you hear clicking sounds coming from the engine compartment, this signals that there is enough charge in the battery to activate the solenoid (which is the source of the clicking noise), but there is not enough charge to power the starter.

Because the starter motor requires a large electric current to turn over the engine, whereas the lights and wipers require very little current to operate, you shouldn’t count out the possibility of a weak battery in your Highlander just because the electrical accessories work normally.

Dashboard lights that flicker and a noise that sounds like fast clicking

When you try to start the engine in your Highlander, you may notice that the dashboard lights flicker and/or that there is a quick clicking noise. Both of these symptoms are signs of a weak battery.

If there is not enough charge in the battery to power the starter motor and you try to crank the engine, the battery voltage will get so low that it will not be able to properly power the lights, accessories, or the starter motor.

If there is not enough charge in the battery to power the starter motor, It’s possible that the relay in the fuse box is the source of the clicking sound, but it might also be the starter solenoid.

A rapid clicking sound is a symptom.

Instructions on how to check the battery in the Highlander

Using a multimeter to measure the voltage is the simplest way to determine whether or not the battery in the Highlander has 12 volts.

When fully charged, a battery that is healthy should have a voltage of at least 12.6 volts.

But keep in mind that a volt meter can only provide you with an approximation of the battery’s state of health at best.

There are situations in which a battery with a voltage reading of more than 12.4 volts may not be able to generate sufficient current to turn over the engine.

Test for voltage drop When you attempt to start the engine, you can also check the voltage drop at the battery.

Your battery will not have enough charge to start the engine if the voltage goes too low, below 10 volts.

It is possible for this to occur if the battery has had internal degradation, if the vehicle has been parked for an extended period of time, or if the alternator in your Highlander has developed a fault and is unable to charge the battery as it should.

How to Get the Highlander Riding Again?

Jump-starting your Highlander with jumper cables and a healthy battery from another vehicle, or using a battery booster, if you have one, is the best way to rule out the possibility that the battery is dead.

If you don’t have either of these options, the next best thing is to use a battery booster.

In order to comply with the requirements, the engine of both of the cars must be turned off, and the gearbox must be in the Park position.

Highlander requires that the positive end of the red cable be connected to the dead battery’s positive connector.

Make the connection between the positive terminal of the donor battery and the opposite end of the red cable.

Establish a connection between the negative terminal of the donor battery and the black cable.

Finally, connect the other end of the black cable to any portion of your Highlander’s body or engine that is made of raw metal and has not been painted.

A word of caution: making a direct connection between the negative terminal of the Highlander battery and the black cable can cause sparks that ignite dangerous gases that are released from the battery.

Start your Highlander.

Removing the cables should be done in the opposite sequence.

2. An improper connection to the battery

There is a possibility that the battery in your Toyota Highlander is in good condition.

corrosion on the terminals of the battery

Corrosion of batteries is a very common issue, particularly if the installed battery is more than two years old. When the acid from the battery reacts with the metal terminals, corrosion occurs. This might result in a loss of contact, which in turn decreases the flow of current. When you try to start the engine, you might only hear a clicking noise coming from the starter solenoid if there isn’t enough current flow to crank the engine.

Check the terminals on the battery.

You need to inspect the battery terminals in order to determine whether or not the difficulties you are having starting your Highlander are due to filthy terminals.

Check for any indications of corrosion by lifting the plastic coverings that are covering the terminals.

If you see white deposits or deposits with a silvery-green hue, but there are no other cracks or damage, it is possible that you may only need to clean the batteries rather than replace it.

Make sure the battery terminals are clean.

Quick cleaning:

There is a nifty little trick that you can use to clear corrosion on the battery terminals of your Highlander in less than a minute.

You can do this by following the instructions in our quick cleaning guide.

If you pour boiling hot water over the rusted terminals, the corrosion will disappear almost immediately.

Take care of one terminal at a time, and avoid letting water that has pooled on the top of the battery come into contact with both terminals at the same time; doing so might cause the battery to become discharged prematurely.

Thorough cleaning To thoroughly clean the battery in your Toyota Highlander, you must first disconnect the terminal cables.

This does not require any specialized training or knowledge; rather, it requires a little bit of concentration because the order in which the steps are performed is very important.

To begin, use a wrench or pliers to disconnect the black line from the negative terminal on the battery.

After that, you can unhook the red cable that is connected to the positive terminal.

It would be a very expensive mistake if you accidentally touched both terminals with your metal tool, so take care not to do that.

Sandpaper can be used to clean the corroded battery once the battery has been removed from the circuit and the circuit has been disconnected from the battery.

Following the completion of the cleaning process, the cables should be reconnected in the opposite sequence, with the positive end going in first.

3. An inadequate electrical connection to the starter

In the Highlander, once you have determined that the battery is not the source of the problem, it is time to look at the power cord for the starter motor and its connections to both the battery and the beginning motor.

Corrosion on the connectors or a connection that has become loose can both cause the power supply to the starter to get disrupted and cause the starter to stop working.

The clicking sound is coming from the starter solenoid, which is still receiving electricity because it is connected to its own independent circuit.

The starter motor, on the other hand, is not receiving any power from the battery.

Sandpaper should be used to clean the affected connector as well as the terminal if corrosion is discovered.

In addition, it is recommended to check the voltage at the starter and use a multimeter to do a continuity test between the battery and the starter. Both of these tests should be performed from the battery to the starter.

The voltage should read more than 12 volts (this is the voltage of the battery), and the resistance should be zero ohms or very near to zero.

Rodent damage

If rodents such as rats, mice, or squirrels have chewed through the cable for the starter motor, it might result in a poor flow of electrical power to the motor or even prevent any current from flowing at all.

Examine the cord that connects the starter to the engine as well as the engine compartment itself for any signs of bite marks.

If the cable is broken in any way, you should replace it with a brand-new one.

4. Improper connection to the ground

What exactly is a link to the ground?

A ground connection refers to the connection between the battery’s negative terminal and the Highlander body or chassis. In order for the engine to function properly, it also needs to be connected to the ground; but, due to the way the engine is positioned, it does not permit electric current to travel between the engine and the body (due to non-conductive rubber insulated engine mounts).

In order to achieve this goal, a ground strap or ground wire is utilized to provide the connection between the engine and the chassis.

What happens if the ground connection isn’t functioning properly?

Suppose rust or corrosion causes the ground connection of the chassis or the engine of your Highlander to become compromised. In that case, you will experience a wide variety of electrical problems, including clicking noises and a situation where the vehicle will not start.

The proper operation of the starter motor and the solenoid that controls it is dependent on the ground connection of the engine.

Due to the high current requirement, the starter motor might not be able to turn over the engine when the ground is poor, but the starter solenoid might still be able to work and create clicking noises because it has a lower current requirement.

How can I determine if the ground connection is functioning properly?

Conductivity testing can be used to evaluate the state of the ground connection in the Highlander by comparing the engine’s negative battery terminal to the engine’s positive terminal.

Take a multimeter and adjust its settings so that the ohms sign is displayed.

Put one probe in contact with the battery’s negative terminal, then touch the other probe to any exposed metal element of the vehicle’s engine.

The reading ought to be exactly zero ohms or extremely near to that value.

Repeat this step between the battery’s negative terminal and any section of the chassis or body that is bare metal and not painted.

Examine the connections to the ground.

In the event that the conductivity test is unsuccessful, you should examine the state of the ground connections in your Highlander.

Conduct a visual inspection for any traces of rust or corrosion on the connectors of the ground cables (battery to the body, body to the engine). Sandpaper can be used to clean the contacts on the device.

5. Bad starting motor

When you try to start the engine in your Highlander, you will only hear clicking noises coming from the starter solenoid if the beginning motor has developed a problem and is unable to crank the engine.

If this is the case, you will need to replace the starter motor.

Quick and easy solution

A tried-and-true method can be used to start the engine even if the starter motor is malfunctioning.

While your friend is trying to start the engine inside the vehicle, you should get a hammer and lightly hit the starter motor.

This workaround is helpful in situations where the components that make up the starter are jammed together or the gears are slightly misaligned.

However, it is likely that the starter is approaching the end of its useful life; therefore, it is recommended that you have a qualified specialist evaluate it.

6. Engine failure

In extremely unusual circumstances, a frozen engine may prevent the Highlander from starting and produce a clicking noise.

If this is the case, the engine won’t crank, and all you will hear from the starter solenoid when you attempt to start the vehicle is a single click.

A shortage of oil, improper maintenance, and hydrolock are the three factors that contribute most frequently to broken engines.

This often occurs when the engine abruptly dies with a loud knocking noise and then refuses to turn over after the engine has stalled.

Toyota Models

• Toyota RAV4
• Toyota Corolla/Toyota Corolla Hatchback
• Toyota Tacoma
• Toyota 4Runner
• Toyota Land Cruiser
• Toyota Crown
• Toyota Tundra

Read More:

• How To Change Battery In Toyota Highlander Key Fob?
• How To Open Highlander Trunk Without Key?
• How Much Does A Toyota Highlander Weigh?

Conclusion

There could be a number of factors contributing to the clicking noise and inability to start your Toyota Highlander.

When investigating for the cause, you should begin by eliminating the most obvious and straightforward potential culprits, which are a weak battery and a bad electrical connection, respectively.

In any event, it is recommended that laypeople participate in some kind of workshop.

A skilled mechanic can quickly determine the cause of the problem with the engine not cranking.

FAQ on How To Jumpstart A Toyota Highlander

When you are starting an automobile, why don’t you connect the negative terminal?

Hints and Tips: Jumping a Battery

Under no circumstances should the black cable ever be connected to the dead battery’s negative (−) connection. Because of the potential for an explosion, this activity should be avoided at all costs.

How do you high-hop a Toyota Highlander model year 2022?

Here is the procedure for giving your Toyota Highlander Hybrid a jump start: To begin, raise the hood and remove the lid from the fuse box. Next, connect the positive jumper clamp to the jump starting terminal on your vehicle. After that, connect the additional positive end to the positive battery terminal of the second vehicle.

What might possibly be preventing my Toyota Highlander from starting?

A dead battery, a malfunctioning alternator, or a failed starter are the three most typical causes of a Toyota Highlander that will not start.

What are the specific steps to jumping a 2021 Toyota Highlander?

Connect the positive jumper cable clamp to your car by using the jump-starting terminal that is reserved exclusively for this purpose. The other positive end should then be connected to the second vehicle. Connect the negative lead to the second vehicle, and then connect the negative lead on your vehicle’s end to a stationary metallic point that is unpainted and is located far from any moving parts.