3rd & 4th Generation (1992–1996 & 1997–2001)Toyota Camry Discussion for years: 1992-1996 & 1997-2001
Topics of discussion range from fuel economy, safety, modifications, performance all involving America's favorite family car, the Toyota Camry.
...I think I might have ran it down to the starter. I have already done the research on this website and after reading serveral threads on "car won't start" and posts from guys like Mike Gerber, I believe its the starter.
Ok it happened like this. My wife drove her 1997 Camry (I4 2.2 with 237k miles) to school yesterday. Her car died in the parking lot when she was looking for a parking spot. So she tries to start the car and it started but shortly died again. She said the gas light had been on so she assumed she was out of gas. So she started the car again (it started surprisingly) and headed towards the gas station to fill up. Well, just as she was going to pull in the gas station, the car died. She tried starting it again but this time no luck (she tried several times). I guess some guys stopped and helped her push the car in by the pump. At that time she checked her oil level; NO OIL on the dip stick. So she fills up the oil pan also. After gassing and oiling up, still no luck at starting the car. I had finally gotten to where she was at. I tried starting but the engine won't turn over. There is "one" click from the starter though. All the lights, wipers and beeps work and so on. From there I had already determine that it had something to do with the starter. Maybe she killed the starter when she tried starting the car multiple gazillion times earlier.
But anyways, sorry for the book I just typed. Thought I just shared that incident. Btw, this is the first time this camry has done this. There has never been any serious mechanical internal work done before on this camry ever. She eats alot of oil though; and leaks alot too. I am going to try a diy on the starter with the help of the links posted somewhere here that I seen.
The starter will not cause the engine to die. It only comes in to play to start (crank over; also called turning over) the engine. It is essentially an electric motor that spins the engine until the engine runs on it's own. It is more likely your wife just ran down the battery trying to start the car repeatly. Before doing anything to the starter I would simply try to jump start the car. If you still get one click, then check all connections at the battery posts and terminals. If they check out OK, then proceed to work on the starter.
I agree with Mike Gerber....sounds like the battery to me. Also..if you DO get the car turning over and still wont start...check to see if you hear the fuel pump activate when you turn the key to on (before actually trying to start the car). If you cant hear it..then her fuel pump may have gone out.
__________________
1993 Camry LE I4 Bone Stock - 380,000 miles (as of Aug '11)
1993 Camry XLE V6 Bone Stock - 260,xxx miles (as of July '11) Blown Head Gasket
2003 Chevy Trailblazer EXT I6 - 107,000 miles (as of Aug '11)
OK. I have tried jump starting the camry and no luck. All I hear is that "one" click from the starter (when it clicks, the starter also moves a bit; kinda like twitch a little when it clicks). I can hear the fuel pump click so I assume it is not the fuel pump either. So I am going to proceed with the starter.
OK. I have tried jump starting the camry and no luck. All I hear is that "one" click from the starter (when it clicks, the starter also moves a bit; kinda like twitch a little when it clicks). I can hear the fuel pump click so I assume it is not the fuel pump either. So I am going to proceed with the starter.
Good luck with the starter and we'll all hope that is it. It could also be something more serious, like a completely seized engine from running it with "no oil shown on the dipstick." The starter may not have enough power to turn over a seized engine. That may be why you hear the one click and see ot move a bit. We'll all keep our fingers crossed.
Alright. Updates on the starter job. I have gone to the Toyota Dealer and bought new starter contact plates. I replaced the old ones with the new ones. The old ones were really worned out. One side seem worned out more the other side. The plunger was also worned out. I cleaned the plunger with a wire brush. I had also cleaned all the connections from the battery to the starter and also cleaned the starter with electrical cleaner fluid. I also greased up the battery terminals. I put everything back. I went ahead and turn the ignition (holding my breath) just to hear that "CLICK" again!!! Ok....so I don't think I am hearing the right click to the fuel pump then?? I said before in the previous post that I DO hear the fuel pump click. But I think now I don't think it was the fuel pump I heard click. I did the test myself and sitting in the driver seat while turning the ignition on is a little hard to hear the click behind me with all that noise (I had the driver door open; there is a ding ding ding ding noies from the door being open). Do you guys think it might be the fuel pump?? She did say she ran out of gas (supposely the gas light had been on from home all the way to school; which is 35 mile drive). Now IF it is the fuel pump that went dead, how hard is it to replace it?? I am going to have another person stand by the gas tank and listen to the pumpc click this time. Any tutorials or help guides here??? I think I might have to go the fuel pump way. And if all things fail I guess just like you said MIKE; "seized engine". I will update again.
A dead fuel pump will not keep the starter from turing over (cranking) the engine. If the fuel pump was dead it would crank and crank but not run on it's own. You must see if the starter can turn over the engine before going further. Since you know how to take the starter out, I would take it out again and take it to any auto parts store that offers free testing of the starter. Most auto parts store offer this service. Call around to stores in your area. If the starter turns outr bad, a rebuilt starter may get the car up and running again. If the starter checks out OK, then you either have bad cables going from the battery to the starter (you said it didn't start with a jump and that you also cleaned the battery posts and battery cable terminals) or a seized engine. I hope for your sake that the problem is the starter itself.
As an afterthought, try locating the starter relay and having someone tap that why you hold the key in the start position. It's possible the relay is defective. The one click you are hearing just might be the relay.
i believe i sorta had this problem..
the way it was fixed was that it resolved itself. when i turn the key it clicks. this usually happens in the mornings. but i keep turning the key until it starts cranking. luckily i get it running. but i usually do keep on turning the key for a good 5 minutes until it starts..
Did the oil light come on at any point? When you say there was "no oil" in the engine, does that mean it did not show on the dip stick, or there was really NO oil in the engine?
If it was me, I would disconnect the battery, and try turning the engine over manually using a socket on the main engine pulley. If the motor turns easily enough, then remove the starter, set it up in such a way where it is connected (beware not to allow a short to any part of the body or engine) and give the key a bump to see if the starter turns over. If it doesn't, you can then feed power into the starter solenoid directly to see if the starter itself is good but not getting a signal from the starter circuit.
Updates. I took the starter back off and brought it to the part store to test. It spun fast and that metal rod extended out also. The starter is good. I then put the starter back on. Next I went ahead to try to turn the crank pulley to see if it would turn. I had to take the passenger side wheel off and the plastic cover behind it. I went ahead used a 19mm socket with a torque bar and NO luck man. It was hard to turn. I even broke the 19mm socket. So I put everything back together. Attempted to jump start it again. I let the cables connect for about 5 minutes and then attempted to start it. This time I could hear like it wanted to turn for a second; and then the "CLICK". The next try it was just a "CLICK". Ok, so before running the problems down, I decided I should check the fuel pump also. I went ahead unscrew the bolt on the fuel filter open. Then I turned the key to ON just to see if the fuel pump would pump any gas out from the filter line. Nothing. I took the back seat off and located the fuel pump. I left the key to the "ON" position; the fuel pump isn't making any noise (or it isn't pumping anything). By now I believe I've ran the sitiuation down like this:
Starter = good
Battery = bad
Fuel pump = bad
Seized Engine = could be slightly; could be seriously
I am going to replace the fuel pump, fuel filter and battery. Wait, I think before I replace all those, I am going to have this buddy of mine come take a look at the situation. He does alot of car work on his own. I don't want to replace anything if the engine is really locked up dead. I figure I would be spending $150-$250 on the pump, another $25 for the filter and about $50-$100 on a new battery. So far $25 has been spent on the new starter contacts and $150 to tow the dead car home.
Did the oil light come on at any point? When you say there was "no oil" in the engine, does that mean it did not show on the dip stick, or there was really NO oil in the engine?
The oil light did not come on. The gas light came on when she was driving to school. She said it came on a couple times but she ignored it. She thought she could probably make it (which was still another 15-20 miles). When I told my wife to check the oil dipstick, she said there was nothing on it. This car eats alot of oil. I ussually have to put 1 quart to a 1/2 quart every week and a half to two weeks. When the car died, I had asked my wife if she seen any smoke coming out of the hood or from the exhaust and if she had smell anything burning. She said no. Would there be any sign if the engine did seized up then? How long would you need to run the engine with no oil before it would actually seize up? I was thinking; and I'm hoping that the engine isn't seized. I say luckily the car ran out of gas, otherwise maybe she would of keep running the engine with no oil.
Pull out the valve cover if you believe its has seized...also my had a recent problem like this one. My cousins '93 Wagon didn't start for anything...it ended being a bad pump i do believe your problem is the fuel pump make sure the timing belt hasn't snaped
__________________ 99 5s w/ V6 '01 Solara Brake Conversion & 1985 AW11 MR2 5spd Camry:Tokico Blue's w/ Ebiach Lowering Springs on Motegi FF7 17" Rims with FALKEN ALL SEASON SPORT TIRES MR2: 7A-GE
FS: Gen 4.5 Clear lense/JVC HU&Radar
It Sounds Like His Alternator Is Missed Up Here Is My Opinion When She Was Driving By The Time She Was Looking For A Spot The Car Wasnt Using The Alternator It Was Using The Battery So It Look Like The Battery Finally Died And The Click You Heard From The Starter It Was The Battery Died So Its Not Ur Starter Its Your Alternator Its Not Charging The Battery
The AutoGuide.com network consists of the largest network of enthusiast-owned enthusiast-operated automotive communities.
AutoGuide.com provides the latest car reviews, auto show coverage, new car prices, and automotive news. The AutoGuide network operates more than 100 automotive forums where our users consult peers for shopping information and advice, and share opinions as a community.
ToyotaNation.com is an independent Toyota/Lexus enthusiast website. ToyotaNation.com is not sponsored by or in any way affiliated with Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. The Toyota, Lexus and Scion names and logos are trademarks owned by Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc.
Linear Mode
