intermitant starting problems; is it the starter or something else???

[jaansu]

In my 90 Camry, I had the starter replaced last year after a series of starting problems. Occasionally, turning the key only produced a single click. Either retrying, shifting up and down, trying it in neutral or hammering on the starter, eventually started the car. Not clear if any of these actions were really effective since sometimes it started if you tried it enough times.

The problem has returned and recently the percent of failures to start the first time has increased. Again, just a click and at no time have I been stranded - eventually it starts. My only observation is that it seems to make a difference sometimes if I put a little more torque on the key. Can the problem be in the key contacts?

Since the problem never seems to occur when it is in the shop, they can't easily help me. Does it sound likely I got a poor starter, I assume it was rebuilt, or could it be another problem? I drive 50 miles to work each day and would hate to be stuck that far from my indie shop.

['88 All-Trac]

You may need to do the starter relay mod... But I haven't encountered that particular problem yet so I can't give you much help.

Try doing a quickie search for starter relay here on the Gen 1/2 forums.

[white90dx]

The link to the starter relay thread is in one of the stickies at the top of this section. It should solve your problems.

Until you get to that point, try starting the car with all accessories off (radio, fans, brake lights, head lights, etc.) and see if that improves things until you can really fix it.

-Charlie

[jaansu]

I did read the sticky but I wonder if it applies to my problem. The sticky indicates 'no start, no click.' I get a loud click each time I turn the key.

[Mike Gerber]

Do a search on this forum for "starter contacts" and read up on that problem and it's cure. It's been covered numerous times. That sounds more like your problem to me.

Mike