Starting troubles - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Curry · 04-16-2007, 10:20 PM

Ok some of you may know the north east got hit with a nice rainstorm yesterday...

I got out of work, drove home fine. I stopped off home and then when i tried to start the car to go back out it wouldnt start...

But here's the thing. I would turn the key and it wouldnt crank, you would just see the little lights (oil, etc) come on. all the electronics would work... headlights, tv's etc etc

After turning the key from on to off a few times it finally cranks and starts... If I turn it back off same thing turn off and on a few times and it will start....

its NOT the batteries they are both fully charged and working...

Also. The fuse located inside the car (bottom left) is marked "tails" its 15amps and it keeps blowing.

When this blows the lights for my guage cluster goes out, the AC control lights, the shifter lights and the tails that are on when you have the headlights on (brake lights work...)

Any idea why this fuse keeps blowing? Could I have water leaking in somewhere shorting it out? and could water be the reason the car is having trouble starting?

Thanks!

EDIT:

Today the starting was a little better. It started up in one shot this morning. I got out of work again it started in one shot normally. But I took it off and tried to put it on, it wouldnt crank. Turned the key from on to off and it cranked when i turned it back on. Still having the fuse problem as well.

***toyomoho*** · 04-16-2007, 11:48 PM

You turn the ignition key and absolutely nothing happens, no click, dash indicators lights do not go out, etc.

As to the fuse, download the appropriate generation wiring manual at the link below. There is a chart at the front showing what items are run off this fuse (a lot). Then use a meter to check for shorts. Start with those items that have some exposed wiring such as in the trunk.

http://oregonstate.edu/~tongt/camry

Curry · 04-17-2007, 12:14 AM

Thanks for the reply toyo.

When i turn the key I dont get a clik. but dash indicators come one. I remember seeing the oil light for sure and they stay on... I dont remember seeing a CEL...

I know which fuse and stuff it is and what it controls. I was trying to figure out where it could be shorting. I checked the trunk but I didnt have time to take a detailed look. Im gonna check it out tomorrow again or on wednesday

***Eye8Pussies*** · 04-17-2007, 10:09 AM

check the connection from the battery to the starter as well and check your starter relay

for the short in the trunk, check the area where the trunk hinges are.
the gen3 is notorious for shorts in that area from constant opening/closing

Curry · 04-17-2007, 10:19 AM

Thanks eye8

Going to check those out later today see what the deal is.

Mike Gerber · 04-17-2007, 12:29 PM

The no start problem sounds like the common starter solenoid worn contacts problem. It has been covered many times on this forum. Do a search for "starter contacts" and read up on the problem and it's repair.

Mike

***Eye8Pussies*** · 04-17-2007, 01:13 PM

^ very good point

did the starter relay click or not? if it did and didn't crank, then it's probably the starter itself

bigbird · 04-17-2007, 01:20 PM

my 95 V6 did the same thing, it turned out to be the starter solinoid but i just ended up replacing the whole starter since it was worn anyways.

Curry · 04-17-2007, 02:23 PM

Going to replace the solenoid tomorrow and see if that fixes it. Im pretty sure the water had a role in it. I checked all my wiring and its solid.
There was no click at all. Just turned the key and nothing.

Then after turning once or twice It would start normally.

As for the fuse blowing. I tested today and it was putting out 14.6 volts.. I popped in a fuse and it didnt blow. So I have reason to believe it was water...

Curry · 04-18-2007, 01:10 PM

Yep I checked the left side pocket of the trunk stripped out all the carpet and sure enough it was flooded up. So I need to find out where that water is getting in from.

bigbird · 04-18-2007, 01:29 PM

glad ya figured it out. the way i found out where water was leaking from was i had my friend spray the car while i got into the trunk from the rear seats and just watched where it came from. turned out to be bad weather stripping.

Curry · 04-18-2007, 04:34 PM

Yea today was a funfilled day of fixing stuff. I stripped the other camry and used the parts to fix my daily. lol. Its great having a spare camry lying around.

Curry · 04-19-2007, 10:40 PM

Ok so today the fuse popped again, What should I be checking for? I checked the voltage at the fuse box where the fuse is blowing and its reading 12 volts with the car off and 14 with the car on...

I checked the trunk wires to see if any were cut or damaged and grounding out but I didnt see anything of that nature...

Mike Gerber · 04-20-2007, 02:19 PM

"I checked the trunk wires to see if any were cut or damaged and grounding out but I didnt see anything of that nature..."

Did you open up the loom of wires inside the trunk by the driver's side trunk hinge? Those wires have a tendancy to fray and break. This is caused by the constant flexing they are experiencing when the trunk is constantly opened and closed. A couple of frayed wires in there may be touching each other from time to time as the car bounces. Open it up and take a look.

Mike

Curry · 04-20-2007, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Gerber

"I checked the trunk wires to see if any were cut or damaged and grounding out but I didnt see anything of that nature..."

Did you open up the loom of wires inside the trunk by the driver's side trunk hinge? Those wires have a tendancy to fray and break. This is caused by the constant flexing they are experiencing when the trunk is constantly opened and closed. A couple of frayed wires in there may be touching each other from time to time as the car bounces. Open it up and take a look.

Mike

Thanks for the info mike. I'm going to give that a look....

I'll start with the hinges and see what I come up with.