Hard cold start, fine after that

[crocyson]

95 Toyota Camry V6 60k miles

Its my wifes car so some of the description is from her... best i can do. She kept complaining that it would take her 2-3 times to start her car in the morning before work. When i went to check it out the first turn of the key didn't crank at all. Second turn gave a weak crank and third started right up. We went shopping and came back out to the car and it started up fine. So i've been out with the car several times now and its the same everytime. First start of the day is rough but after that its fine.

I replaced the alternator and the battery a few months ago and this problem started soon after. My first thought was maybe the starter was going out but the fact that it is fine the rest of the day has me confused. I tried searching google and this forum and i'm thinking maybe its a cold start sensor but don't want to waste any money without asking some toyota experts. Thanks a lot for any help guys.

[1996camry]

have you changed spark plug wires , button caps, rotors, and distrubutor yet?
if you have not changed yet, you need to do that...money is a problem for you,then i would buy the wire sets to replace new first...to see if the problem go away..if not, u need look at button caps and rotor (internal) replace next...

is the car only crack when the engine hot or cold only?

[Kep]

If you are saying that the engine doesn't turn over (spin, crank) the first time, then it cranks very slowly and finally it cranks fast enough to start then I am going to look somewhere else.

You just changed out the battery and alternator. Go back and make sure that the battery terminal connections are clean (sometimes that anti corrosion fluid gets in the connection) and tight. New and especially rebuilt alternators can be bad. Take your car to an auto parts store and have the system checked even though you just replaced it. If you would rather, go out in the morning before the first crank and jump the car from one with a good battery. If it cranks right up then you’re looking at the electrical system.

One other thought, you are real cold in Chicago. Do you have the right oil in the engine? I don’t know if that would keep an engine from spinning or not.

Kep

[crocyson]

Originally Posted by 1996camry

have you changed spark plug wires , button caps, rotors, and distrubutor yet?
if you have not changed yet, you need to do that...money is a problem for you,then i would buy the wire sets to replace new first...to see if the problem go away..if not, u need look at button caps and rotor (internal) replace next...

is the car only crack when the engine hot or cold only?

only when its cold, first thing in the morning. If we drive the car to the store and shop for an hour the car will start fine when we come out. It only happens when the car sits over night or while she is at work.