Help me figure out why my car wont start. - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Albuynp Ryeno · 08-07-2008, 09:12 PM

Alright my gen 3.5 camry 1mz-fe wont start when its been left sitting for a while, SOMETIMES. Thats the problem sometimes it will start and sometimes it wont.

When it does start, it works normally.

When it wont start. Basically I turn the key and the car wont start. Or starts a bit(like less then 1 sec) then dies. Some other times i turn the key to make it start, it wont start, so i release the key and the car does the start for less then 1 sec thing n dies. Usually i just retry and it does start. Also it seems when i press the gas pedel while starting, it helps it start.

Then when it doesnt start n starts, it chugs a bit. Then becomes normal. Also i cant think of one time when i turn off the car after driving it and then turn it back on within a short time and it doesnt start.

What should i do to troubleshoot the car? Also this car has had this problem for a while now. Idk if this matters but i have recipts showing the car has had its oil changed on time. I've also cleaned the throttlebody and changed the fuel filter, did nothing. Plus i have ran fuel injector cleaner(idk if it worked) and seafoamed the car.

the94camryman · 08-07-2008, 09:37 PM

when it doesnt start, can you hear it kinda click when you try to start it? if it is then its your starter. just replace that and maybe your battery if youve ever ran that dead, cuz it could be killing your starter.
thats what mine was doin.

***toyomoho*** · 08-07-2008, 09:43 PM

Did you clean the IAC valve? Also check MAF sensor.

1996camry · 08-07-2008, 10:06 PM

i don't think your starter is the problem..if the starter, then it wouldn't start..

does your car only start when it's cool engine? can your car start when it hot temp gauge (middle)?

Albuynp Ryeno · 08-07-2008, 10:06 PM

I think the starter is good. The car cranks, i think thats what it called, it makes that shhs shhs shhs noise. Also another thing, VERY RARELY when it wont start, it makes a scretching noise right after the cranking and doesnt start.

The battery is brand new as well.

The IAC is right next to the TB right? If so when i cleaned the tb, i sprayed some cleaner into that hole, then blew it out with compressed air. U think thats a good way to clean it or should i remove it from the car and clean it with a a towel.

About the MAF, i cleaned that. IDK if this matters but when i changed my car to a cold air intake, i got a cel. it said the maf n iac were bad. I reset it and it has never came back. Also i even switched my car today back to the stock intake for emission test and i didnt get a cel. Plus the problem has existed before i even went to a cold air intake.

What really pisses me off is how sometimes it will and sometimes it wont start. It almost seems random, but it only happens after i haven't driven the car for a while ie overnight. If the car is warmed up, its never had a problem starting. Yesterday i changed my coolant and i must have turned the car on n off like over 10 times and it always started. Plus the car doesnt have a CEL.

1996camry · 08-07-2008, 10:50 PM

can you tell more info. about your car... The car starts on cold, but the car will not start when it's hot.

I pretty sure your distrubutor is the problem... if you have a meter, check your wire resistance then start next troubleshoot distrubutor...

when the distrubutor goes bad, cold will not crank . when it gets hot temp. gauge (middle),will start...

If I were you, get a manual of your car..check resistance of the distrubutor wires.. if they're ok, then go distrubutor. when is the last time you change your spark plugs.?

before you try to look at the distrubutor, check spark plug wires resistance to make sure they're still in spec., then take spark plug out...look at the spark plug what color or dirty or you know when last time you changed your spark plugs...

Albuynp Ryeno · 08-07-2008, 11:11 PM

Other way around, the car starts when its warm but not (SOMETIMES) when its cold.

Also the 1mz-fe is distributor-less.

IDk where in the owners manuel it says the resistance stuff. I do have an gen 4 haynes manuel. Its stuff should be the same between the gen 3 and early gen 4 1mz-fes right?

cykaaro · 08-07-2008, 11:14 PM

Have you checked to make sure your wires on the battery are nice and tight? I had some really strange no-start issues and was just the ground wire wasn't tightening up right. If I moved it slightly, it would then start. Maybe not the issue, but something the simplest thing is the issue. Either way, best to rule it out if it's not the root cause.

Albuynp Ryeno · 08-07-2008, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cykaaro

Have you checked to make sure your wires on the battery are nice and tight? I had some really strange no-start issues and was just the ground wire wasn't tightening up right. If I moved it slightly, it would then start. Maybe not the issue, but something the simplest thing is the issue. Either way, best to rule it out if it's not the root cause.

The wires are good. I had this problem when the car had its original wires. I know what you mean about the wires causing no start ups, i had that problem with my gen 4. Actually i thought of the exact same thing as you. When i got the car it had all that white powder n shit on the battery terminals. I replaced the battery and i replace the connectors, plus i upgraded the wire to gauge 1 wire (for my audio system). I still have the same problem.

cykaaro · 08-08-2008, 03:56 AM

Just thought I'd suggest it. It amazing how a loose ground cable, although seemingly on if it's not tightened down right can cause no-starts. Always best to start with the simple things and rule them out first.

1996camry · 08-08-2008, 06:30 AM

i don't know exact the name..but there is a sensor that control cold start...

cold start sensor not sure exact name..Can someone fill it in? coule be possible bad..because the sensor go bad..check engine light will not come on when the cold start sensor go bad, but i would look into the sensor.

if you say battery cable terminals are tight and you have new battery...

***BMR*** · 08-08-2008, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1996camry

i don't know exact the name..but there is a sensor that control cold start...

cold start sensor not sure exact name..Can someone fill it in? coule be possible bad..because the sensor go bad..check engine light will not come on when the cold start sensor go bad, but i would look into the sensor.

Are you thinking of the cold start injector?

mvftw · 08-08-2008, 11:50 AM

Since the car sometimes starts then stalls, I would be looking at a fuel problem...change your filter, then look at the pump...

Albuynp Ryeno · 08-08-2008, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mvftw

Since the car sometimes starts then stalls, I would be looking at a fuel problem...change your filter, then look at the pump...

That was actually my second guess after the bad terminals. I changed my fuel filter. I know how to get to the fuel pump, what do i need to do to test it?

Also i wanna test the ignition coils and spark plugs, how do i get to the rear bank coils/plugs?

Albuynp Ryeno · 08-09-2008, 02:57 PM

So i have been inspecting the car today. All 6 ignition coils are getting 12.3v of power. The front 3 ignition coils are all at like 1.0 whatever the resistance is. Also the front 3 spark plugs look liek they are in good condition. They are a little greasy on where the anti-sieze was put on. Also they are denso pk20r11 and i have the recipt showing they were changed really recently.

i still have have to figure out how to get to the rear spark plugs/ignition coils. Next I am gonna go check the fuel pump.

Also i saw some white smoke out of my tail pipe right when i started the car. It looked like seafoam. I think it might be from the seafoam leftover in the gas tank or the fuel injector clean i put in the gas tank.