If you are hearing 1 click, you have the very common "starter solenoid contact problem". The contacts inside the starter's solenoid wear and no longer allow current to pass throught them to the starter. This results in a no crank situation. Do a search on this forum for "starter contacts". It has been covered numerous times.
You can verify this the next time it happens.Have someone hold the key in the start position while you get out and give the starter a tap with a hammer or good size wrench. If the starter now cranks the engine, you have verified the starter solenoid contact problem. You will need to replace the starter's solenoid contacts or replace the entire starter with a new or rebuilt unit.
One other option is to remove your starter from the vehicle and take it in to an auto electrical rebuilder in your area to have your original starter rebuilt. This is an option I prefer if you have the original OEM Toyota starter. However, these rebuilders are becoming harder to find all the time.
If you are hearing multiple rapid clicks then you have a battery problem, an alternator problem where the alternator is not charging the battery, a loose alternator belt again resulting in the alternator not charging the battery, or a problem with poor/corroded connections at the battery posts/terminals or at the starter itself.
http://townhall.edmunds.com/direct/view/.f0ff245/48#MSG48
ReplyDelete#49 of 95 1996 toyoto camry startup problem by raviraj Jul 31, 2008 (7:48 pm)
I am having intermittent starting problems with my 1996 toyota Camry. It has happend 3 times till now.
First it happened 2 months back. I turned the keys and nothing happend. I turned it 3-4 times but nothing it didn't even click or anything. I tried few more times it clicked once but didn't start. My interior light and headlights were working. I went to office in friend's car. In the evening I tried to start the car again. Turned the keys 3-4 times after trying for few times finally it started. I had the problem for 2 days. I used to start the car by turning key again and again. After 2 days the problem disappeared.
But then it showed up again 2nd time a month back. At that time also it did last for one or two days and then went away.
Today, after a month, same thing happend again, this is third time. In the morning car did not start. I tried to turn the key 3-4 time. It clicked once(made that start up noise) but didn't start. I did not take it to work. In the evening when I tried to start it, it started after 3-4 attempts. Once it started I took it to the mechanic and explained him the problem. He was about to close the workshop, so he didn't take a look at the car. Based on my description of problem he said it might be a problem with the starter.
car won't start, problem isn't starter but i think it's in the wiring. 1992 Toyota Paseo
ReplyDeletei can start the car by bypassing the wiring system. when i try to start the car, the clock on dash gets dim, but nothing else happens. is there circuitry, fuse or relay in system that could be causing this problem?
autotechpat, June 04, 2009, 22:16
The Denso starter on these cars have 2 replaceable contacts and a plunger that get pitted and fail giving a clicking sound or cause the dash lights to dim but the engine not crank. The contacts and plunger are inside the small cover with three separate 8mm headed bolts. Frequent problem. If you have power at the starter from the ignition switch check these contacts (starter needs to be removed).
http://repairpal.com/car-wont-start-problem-isnt-starter-but-i-think-its-in-the-wiring-235
I had this identical issue with a 95 Camry, and it simply wasn't getting a good enough ground, compounded by the fact that there was corrosion that didn't look that bad on the posts. However, cleaning them and redoing the connections cleared the issue right up.
ReplyDeleteposted by chrisfromthelc at 7:53 AM on August 21, 2008
I also think it's a connection problem. I used to own a '92 Tercel and had the exact same problem at one point. the fix was to pull all the leads and give them a good cleaning, paying special attention to the spade connections on the starter. A Toyota specialist at the time told me that this was the most common repair he had to do.
posted by bonehead at 8:32 AM on August 21, 2008
http://ask.metafilter.com/99725/Why-wont-my-car-start
Mithral, et al:
ReplyDeleteI tried all the methods. Turns out it indeed appears to be the starter solenoid. I had replaced it a couple times already so this is obnoxious. I'll be keeping a high-tech tool around to fix the problem till i replace it again: a hammer.
Thanks a ton!
http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-239340-1.html
ReplyDeleteIn this case,certainly not the battery problem like you had mentioning.
The other poster had said " he have a 2003 Matrix that have an intermitent problem.
When we try to start the car, the dashbord light goes down."
He had said " intermitent problem ",meaning sometimes,not always.
And he didn't said he got engine cranking problems.
If his battery needs to be replacing.His problem won't be happening
sometimes.It will repeating itself every single time,when he turns the
ignition key.
http://www.camryforums.com/forum/showthread.php?p=33717
ReplyDeletetoyomoho
Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: PNW
Posts: 2,139
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If the "engine" just clicks without turning over check the following:
Battery cables, battery end terminals, battery ground connection, ground cable between engine block and chassis.
Starter solenoid contacts.
Starter solenoid relay.
The positive battery cable runs to the starter solenoid "switch" located on the starter motor. When the ign key is engaged the solenoid electrical contacts close and power flows from the battery cable through the solenoid contacts to the starter motor.
The grounds for the starter is the block and a wire going from the engine to the chassis. The battery is grounded to the chassis.
Typically between the ign key switch and starter solenoid is small relay. The ign key closes this small relay, the relay then engages the starter solenoid.
A Google search will turn up a typical wiring diagram for starter circuit.
Follow the positive battery cable to the starter solenoid (attached to starter motor). You will see a large nut connecting the cable terminal to the starter solenoid. Below this nut is another large nut screwed onto a terminal, this is the electrical output from the solenoid.
When the ign switch is turned to "start" power should flow from the upper terminal to the lower terminal.
If you have jumper cables you can try connecting one end to the Positive battery terminal and the other to the upper terminal on the solenoid. Then try starting the car. If the engine turns over the cable or connection between the battery and starter solenoid is bad.
You can bypass the solenoid by connecting (touching) the jumper cable to the lower nut terminal. This will engage the starter motor.
Also check the negative battery and ground cables. You can connect one end of a battery cable to the negative battery terminal and the other to the a solid unpainted point on the engine block such as a bracket, etc.
When testing remember the positive battery cable has high amperage thus don't ground the cable by mistake, touch it to other electrical devices, fuel lines, etc.
The small wire running to the starter solenoid area comes from the small relay intern going to the ign switch.
Typically the issue is corroded battery terminals, corroded end fitting terminal connection to the cable, bad solenoid contacts.
__________________
Joey P
The starter and solenoid are sold as a 1 piece unit on your Camry and also on most cars today.
ReplyDeletetoyocam99 is correct, you can tap the starter with a hammer or a wrench while someome holds the key in the start position and if it then starts, you have varified you have the common "starter solenoid contact problem". You can if you choose, just replace the starter's solenoid contacts. They are available at the dealer. Here's a thread that will walk you through the process:
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=166530
Mike
http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/showthread.php?p=2716797
ReplyDeleteJust had this intermittent "click" start on a 1999 Solara I bought last month.
ReplyDeleteGreat write-up ! Thanks for the help ! To make this easier for my big hands
I removed the battery and the air box before starting for more clearance.
I bought the parts at the stealership for $25 total. One contact kit was $15
and one was just short of $10. There can't be more than .10 difference in the
component part cost so I was amused by the price difference, but this beats
paying for a new starter.
http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/showthread.php?t=27312&page=2
PICTORIAL GUIDE:
http://web.archive.org/web/20060318013054/http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=27312&forumid=10