Help!! Ignition Broken - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

DeathByDebo · 12-11-2006, 08:22 AM

Hey all... I have a little problem with my camry ..92 v6 4 door..neway i was having issues with my battery clamp popping off of my battery but it wasnt an issue unitl friday .It popped off and my car died and when i put it back on my ignition wont work..I try to start it and it gives me nothing and then it wont let me turn it back to the left locked position to remove key.. If i disconect my battery then it iwill turn to the left and locked position but if i reattach the battery it does the same thing, wont go back into locked pos and wont start..Anyone please help as i have replacedthe lock and tumbler and this did nothing,...

I have to get this thing fixed so any help would be much apreciated.. thank you and i will check this all day..

abew330 · 12-11-2006, 01:49 PM

damn... i dont know what it could be but my key doesnt come out sometime but thats only cause i have the car in N sometimes...
the key wont come out unless i put in P (park)

do you have truble locking/unlocking you doors? trunk?

Novice_cardude · 12-11-2006, 02:00 PM

Make sure you clean the connections going to the battery. A lot of weird problems have that simple cause. Get some baking soda and dissolve it in water, then dip the terminal ends in those to soak for a bit. Get a wire brush and go to town on the battery terminals. If you're still having the problem, it's time to look elsewhere. But seeing as it originated with taking off the terminals, that might be the cause.

Also, the problem with the ignition is not too clear to me, but it could be one of two things. The steering wheel locks the key in the ignition if it's turned while the car is off. Try jiggling the wheel and turning the key to the left.

And as abew330 pointed out, it could be the park switch that's not letting the key come out. Put the transmission in reverse or below, then put it in park again and see if it will budge.

Just some ideas. Ignition switches have got some weird wiring on them that I don't know anything about, but hopefully one of the things suggested here will solve your problem. Good luck!

DeathByDebo · 12-11-2006, 02:50 PM

Ok for claritys sake..>The terminals are clean but not in the best shape so i will check that first...The problem is that the key will turn and the accesorrys will come on but i get nothing from the engine.. When i try to put the key into the locked position to remove it the key WILL NOT TURN to the locked position..The wheel is straight so thats not it. Once i disconnect the battery the key will then turn to the locked position...and freely between locked and start.. Once the battery is reconnected then it will no longer go back into the locked position..Is there some kind of magnetic switch in the ignition that could be stuck? I will try to fix it via terminals but its never done this before..This whole not going into the locked position is new..The key will come out n o metter what pos the key is inas it is worn but changing the lock and tumbler did nothing...Is there a fuse or relay that controls this? Does anyone know??Basically ground wire poppedoff the terminal and i wonder if it could have stuck a magnetic switch in the wrong position..I dunno but please anyone else??

marc780 · 12-11-2006, 08:07 PM

Well DeathbyDebo, you probably dont need me to tell you by now that either need a new KEY, or you need a new ignition switch put in, or both. I'd download the toyota manuals here from the forums General Camry forum.

DEAthbydebo there are two simple things you can do to keep the clamps from pooping off the battery.
First is the easy one, use some big big pliers, diagonals or what have you, and remove the clamp and squish it just a little with the pliers. The idea here is to make the hole just a little OVAL instead of completely ROUND. then slip it back over and try clamping it on, if it wont get tight squish em again.
The second thing is to shim the cable clamp with a piece of metal. A big paper clip, small eletrical connector, even a penny will work if you beat it on the ground with a hammer and flatten it! Then stick in your shim in between the clamp and post and tighten the clamp bolt.

DeathByDebo · 12-12-2006, 07:35 AM

Well...i figured it out..the problem was basically that i am an idiot...

The shift lever was not locking into the front parked position and i had to slam it to make it go but that was the issue...i hang my head in shame...thank u for your help all...The above poster mentioned it might not be in park and made me think about what didnt i check..that was the one thing...thanx again... and i ll be shimming my cables tonight...btw

marc780 · 12-12-2006, 06:37 PM

OH no no you have the problem with that! Try popping off the shifter cover and clean and lubricate the moving parts with engine oil or tri flow (forget WD-40 BTW except for the cleaning, it is not a lubricant)