89 Camry not starting on hot days - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

ExoticKiss · 08-25-2009, 05:45 PM

Ok this is a problem we had last summer too but this year it's gotten twice as bad. It was fine until temperatures starting reaching about 75 and it will start fine for the first start of the day.

I've sat in the car waiting for it to start anywhere from 10 minutes to almost 2 hours and I just want to figure out what's causing it. Jumping it will get it to start and opening the hood seems to cut the waiting time in half.

The only thing I hear when it won't start is a click and the fuel pump kicking on (besides the annoying beeping inside the car haha) it doesn't try to turn over or anything. We replaced the starter last summer thinking that's what the problem was and it still continued to do it after we changed it.

Next we thought maybe the battery because jumping it works when it won't start. It's got a brand new battery and still does it.

Right now we're thinking the starter is getting too hot, the battery is getting to hot or something to do with the wiring. But honestly...I'm dumbfounded haha

Any suggestions?

white90dx · 08-25-2009, 05:59 PM

The answer lies in the 'Starter Relay' thread at the top of this forum.

You can check if that is the problem by turning off ALL accessories when you try to start the car. Foot off brakes, door closed, radio off, headlights off, fan off, etc. See if that improves it.

You can use the wiring/relay from a cheap fog light wiring kit to get all the parts you need to add an extra relay.

-Charlie

ExoticKiss · 08-25-2009, 06:22 PM

There's already an extra relay for the starter...it's put in a little different than described in the post but it's there. And according to the post it won't work anyways because the solenoid is clicking when the car won't start.

Jimnist · 08-25-2009, 08:59 PM

Could bad contacts in the starter cause this?

white90dx · 08-26-2009, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimnist

Could bad contacts in the starter cause this?

Yes, and replacement starters are known to be worse for this problem than factory starters.

Have you checked the idle battery voltage?

-Charlie

Mike Gerber · 08-26-2009, 05:31 PM

To check for bad starter solenoid contacts, the next time it fails to start, take a wrench or small hammer and tap the starter's solenoid. You can even try this with another person holding the key to the start position. If this get's the car to start, do a search on this forum for "starter contacts" and read up on the problem and it's cures. It's been covered numerous times. The 1 click leads me to believe this may be your problem.

Mike

ExoticKiss · 10-26-2009, 01:41 PM

Just figured i would update since I forgot to when I got it figured out. I went to have the car inspected and it wouldn't start so I had them figure out the problem while I was there. It was the solenoid. I just replaced it last summer but they said it's getting too hot because of where it's mounted. I just bought one of those switch remote starters. Works for now.